When a woman becomes sexually active, one of the key concerns is to avoid pregnancy. There are many popular methods to ensure contraception by preventing the sperm from fertilizing the egg, thereby preventing pregnancy. The article lists out some of the popular methods to avoid pregnancy.

1. Using condoms
One of the most popular methods to avoid pregnancy is to use a condom during sexual intercourse. The condom is a sheath worn on the penis during intercourse. It helps to prevent semen from entering the vagina, thereby avoiding pregnancy. If used correctly, it has an effectiveness rate of 99%. There are risks of condom breakage or leakage of the semen while withdrawing. Even females can wear a condom. It needs to be inserted into the vagina before having sex. Using it can be a bit tough, and its effectiveness is lesser than the male condom.

2. Oral contraception
Oral contraception refers to the use of birth control pills to prevent pregnancy. These pills are taken by women every day, starting from the first day of ovulation. They contain hormones that stop ovulation and thus prevents the formation of the egg. It can be very effective provided it is taken correctly. The pill can have side effects. But its positive effects include solving the problem of pain and bleeding during periods.

3. Hormonal injection
Women who want to avoid the inconvenience of taking a pill every day can opt for an injection. This can be taken once every 12 weeks. The injection delivers hormones that help to stop ovulation and thus prevent pregnancy. It is more than 90% effective if the injections are taken on time. If a woman wants to conceive, then it may take up to 10 months for normal ovulation after stopping the injections.

4. Vaginal ring
This is a birth control ring, which is a plastic ring that needs to be placed into the vagina. It needs to remain for three weeks, during which it releases hormones to prevent ovulation. It can be 90% effective but may fail if not used correctly. The ring can be taken out for a week to allow for the menstrual periods to occur. A new ring can then be inserted.

5. Implant
An implant works by releasing hormones into the bloodstream to prevent ovulation. A small implant in the form of a rod is inserted into the hand. It can be 99% effective with very fewer chances of failure. The implant needs to be replaced once every three years. It offers long-term protection, but there is a risk of bleeding if not inserted properly.

6. The morning-after pill
This is an emergency contraception method to avoid pregnancy if a woman has had unsafe sex or if the contraception method has failed. The pill needs to be taken within three days of having sex. It can be 90% effective if taken on time. It can have side effects and should be used only in an emergency.

The popular methods to avoid pregnancy listed in this article are those that are effective. You can compare the effectiveness and convenience of the various methods before choosing one of them.