Birth control effectiveness varies by method, with implants, IUDs, and sterilization preventing pregnancy over 99% of the time. Pills, patches, and condoms are also reliable but depend more on correct ...

With an efficacy rate of 99%, a birth control implant releases progestin which in turn prevents ovulation and thickens the cervical mucus, reducing the possibility of becoming pregnant to a great ...

Fertility awareness may be effective for birth control if people use it correctly and consistently, particularly if they use a combination of methods. Fertility awareness is a method for recognizing ...

Natural family planning, barriers, hormonal methods, copper IUDs, and permanent sterilization have varying degrees of effectiveness. Family planning involves tracking fertility cycles and sexual ...

Education on birth control and its potential adverse effects is vital to women choosing the type that best suits them. Skepticism surrounding hormonal birth control has been increasing nationwide, ...

It seems like the definition of pregnancy should be simple: You either are or you're not. But medical experts disagree with some conservative lawmakers about what constitutes a pregnancy and therefore ...

Nothing’s scarier than a pregnancy scare — that is, if that’s not what you want in this stage of life. If you’re currently ...

The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced. This story first appeared in Healthy You - November 2025, The Gazette’s quarterly health publication.

Doctors say that increased access to emergency contraception is crucial for women. (Getty Images) The reproductive health landscape in the U.S. keeps shifting, particularly since Roe v. Wade was ...