What exactly is birth control? Birth control means things that can be done to ensure that pregnancy occurs only if and when desired. Nowadays there is a wide variety of ways to ensure birth control. However, there is only one way that can be considered 100% safe. The more you know about contraceptive options, the better your chances of avoiding an unwanted pregnancy and reducing your risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. The only guaranteed contraceptive option is abstinence. Abstaining from sexual intercourse ensures that pregnancy does not occur and also prevents sexually transmitted infections. People may have difficulty abstaining for long periods of time and tend to end abstinence without being prepared to protect themselves from pregnancy or venereal disease. Many choose the external course which is sexual play without vaginal intercourse. For others it is a sexual game without any penetration. It is 100% effective against pregnancy, unless pre-ejaculate or sperm reaches the vulva or vagina. The external course, however, often leads to sexual intercourse, so another form of birth control and infection protection must be used. The most commonly used birth control methods are the condom and the pill. The pill is taken once a day and it is advisable to complete one pack every month. Combination pills contain estrogen and progestin. Others are progestin only. The pills contain hormones that work in different ways. Condoms are a thin latex or plastic sheath that covers the penis before intercourse and prevents sperm from joining the egg. No matter how old you are, it is very important to use a condom with another birthing method. There is a wide variety of contraceptive options on the market today. These options include the patch, the ring, and the pull. Injection of the hormone progestin is applied to the arm or buttock every 12 weeks to prevent the release of the egg or prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. The patch, a thin plastic, is applied to the skin of the buttocks, stomach, outer part of the upper arm or upper torso once a week for three consecutive weeks. The ring is a small, flexible ring inserted deep into the vagina for three consecutive weeks and removed on the fourth week. The Ring protects against pregnancy by releasing estrogen and progestin.