All women and men should have control over when they become parents. Making decisions about birth control, or contraception, isn't easy – there's a lot to think about. Learning about birth control methods you or your partner can use to prevent pregnancy and talking with your healthcare provider are two good ways to start. There is no “best” contraceptive method. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some methods work better than others to prevent pregnancy. Researchers are always working to develop or improve contraceptive methods. The contraceptive method you choose must take into account: your general health; the frequency of your sexual relations; the number of sexual partners you have; if you want to have children; how well each method works (or is effective) in preventing pregnancy; any potential side effects; and your comfort level with using the method. Keep in mind that NO contraceptive method prevents pregnancy at any time. Contraceptive methods can fail. But you can significantly increase the success rate of a method by using it correctly at all times. The only way to be sure you never get pregnant is to not have sex (abstinence). What are the different contraceptive methods I can use? There are many contraceptive methods that a woman can use. Talk to your healthcare provider to help you determine which method is best for you. You can always try one method and if you don't like it, you can try another. Keep in mind that most birth control methods do NOT protect you from HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea, herpes, and chlamydia. Besides not having sex, the best protection against STDs and HIV is the latex male condom. The female condom may offer some protection against STDs. Other birth control methods that involve the use of spermicide (a cream or jelly that kills sperm) may also offer some protection against chlamydia and gonorrhea. Remember, all of the methods we talk about below work best if used correctly. Make sure you know the correct way to use them. Talk with your healthcare provider and don't feel embarrassed to talk to them again if you forget or don't understand. Be aware that learning to use certain contraceptive methods can take time and practice..