[ Browse by Service Category : Family Planning : Sub-Topics of Birth Control (29) ]
Contraception
Programs that prescribe and/or supply temporary devices for preventing pregnancy which may include oral contraceptives (birth control pills), hormonal injections (Depo-Provera), intrauterine devices (IUDs), the patch, the sponge, cervical caps, condoms, foam, the vaginal ring and diaphragms.
Emergency Contraception
Programs that prescribe and/or supply birth control pills which are taken within 72-120 hours of having sexual intercourse to prevent an unintended pregnancy. Emergency contraception may be provided in the form of Plan B (2 pills), a large dose of regular birth control pills (two or four pills twice during a 12 hour period) or through insertion of a copper IUD.
Natural Family Planning
Programs that offer instruction in birth control methods which rely on awareness of the woman's fertility cycle in order to achieve or avoid pregnancy rather than on the use of medication, devices or surgery. Included are the Billings birth control method and the rhythm method.
The above terms and definitions are part of the Taxonomy of Human Services, used here by permission of INFO LINE of Los Angeles.