Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are t-shaped devices that are placed inside a woman's uterus by a health care professional. They prevent pregnancy by either creating a spermicidal effect or by releasing progesterone.
Surgical sterilization is a highly reliable for of contraception and includes tubal ligation for women and vasectomy for men.
Other less effective methods of contraception include the rhythm method, in which a couple chooses not to engage in sexual activity during a woman's most fertile time of the month. Some women try to increase their chances of getting or not getting pregnant by charting their times of fertile and infertile times of their cycles.
Couples can also choose to "withdraw" the penis during sex before ejaculation of the sperm occurs. This is a very unreliable method of contraception.
The only 100% sure way to prevent pregnancy is through abstinence, or not participating in sexually activity. Engaging in oral or anal sex or other forms of "outercourse" instead of vaginal intercourse are other reliable options that can prevent pregnancy.
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