Birth control, also known as contraception, comprises the methods, devices, and practices used to prevent unintended pregnancy and to enable individuals and couples to plan whether and when to have children. As a core element of Women's Reproductive Health, it supports informed decision-making about sexual and repro…
Birth control, also known as contraception, comprises the methods, devices, and practices used to prevent unintended pregnancy and to enable individuals and couples to plan whether and when to have children. As a core element of Women's Reproductive Health, it supports informed decision-making about sexual and reproductive life, contributes to maternal and child health by allowing the spacing and timing of pregnancies, and is closely linked to family planning and reproductive autonomy. Contraceptive options include hormonal methods such as oral pills, injectables, implants, and hormonal intrauterine devices; non-hormonal intrauterine devices; barrier methods such as condoms and diaphragms; fertility-awareness-based methods; emergency contraception; and permanent surgical sterilisation. Methods differ in their mechanism, effectiveness, duration, reversibility, side-effect profile, and suitability for particular individuals, so counselling and informed choice are central to appropriate use. Access to contraception is shaped by knowledge, communication, cultural and religious context, and the availability of services, all of which influence uptake and continuation, and adolescent access and education are recognised as particularly important. Effective birth control reduces unintended and high-risk pregnancies, including those associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, and is integral to broader sexual and reproductive health care. By giving people control over fertility, contraception advances health, wellbeing, and the ability to make autonomous reproductive decisions.
7 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 7 articles above have been cited 15 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Birth Control, linking to each citing work.