What types of birth control methods are available over the counter?
Chloe Ramirez
Updated on March 31, 2026
- Male condoms.
- Female condoms.
- Sponges.
- Spermicides.
- Emergency contraception (EC) pills. Plan B One-Step® and its generic versions are available in drugstores and some supermarkets to anyone, without a prescription.
Also, is it possible to get birth control pills over the counter?
Despite this, women in most developed countries need a current prescription from a doctor to access the pill. But this is slowly changing. New Zealand, the Netherlands, and Oregon and California in the United States have opted to reclassify the pill to be available over the counter.
Also Know, what are the 5 most effective forms of birth control? The Most Effective Methods of Birth Control, Ranked
- Condoms. Coming in last place is the good old condom—a tried and true birth control method that is, well, less tried-and-true than you might hope.
- The pill, patch, and ring.
- The Shot.
- LARCs.
- Sterilization.
- Abstinence.
In this regard, what is the most effective method of birth control?
The kinds of birth control that work the best to prevent pregnancy are the implant and IUDs — they're also the most convenient to use, and the most foolproof. Other birth control methods, like the pill, ring, patch, and shot, are also really good at preventing pregnancy if you use them perfectly.
What are 5 methods of birth control?
- Barrier methods. Examples include male and female condoms, as well as the diaphragm, cervical cap and contraceptive sponge.
- Short-acting hormonal methods.
- Long-acting hormonal methods.
- Sterilization.
- Fertility awareness methods.
Related Question Answers
Does birth control make your boobs bigger?
The hormones found in birth control pills are synthetic forms of hormones that naturally occur in your body. When taking these pills, the level of hormones in your body increase. At these increased levels, these hormones can generate changes in your body, such as a temporary increase in breast size or weight gain.Why is birth control not over the counter?
Some health care practitioners are leery of making oral contraceptives OTC, citing safety concerns. ACOG's Committee on Gynecologic Practice believes any safety concerns are not great enough to deter reclassification of oral contraceptives to OTC.What is the best non hormonal birth control?
The copper IUD is the most effective and convenient of the non-hormonal options. Like all birth control methods, it has some risks, but overall it's really safe.How can I control my birth without medication?
These are used each time you have sex and include condoms, diaphragms, sponges, and cervical caps. Rhythm method. This natural birth control method is based on ovulation cycle. This involves abstaining from sex on the days when you're most fertile and most likely to become pregnant.Which birth control is best for weight loss?
"The talk about Yasmin is it's the pill that helps to reduce weight, and it's the pill that helps reduce PMS," says Leah McKinnon-Howe, a nurse practitioner at Northeastern University in Boston. "So some people do come in and ask for Yasmin by name."What birth control has the least side effects?
No form of birth control is free of side effects, but the IUD (intrauterine device) seems to have the least noticeable ones. That's what makes it such a popular option among women of all ages.Which family planning method is the best?
Contraceptives that are more than 99% effective:- contraceptive implant (lasts up to 3 years)
- intrauterine system, or IUS (up to 5 years)
- intrauterine device, or IUD, also called the coil (up to 5 to 10 years)
- female sterilisation (permanent)
- male sterilisation or vasectomy (permanent)