Contraception and Birth Control Resources

• American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
  ACOG is an association of obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) and other health professionals who provide health care to women. The organization provides education and resources for patients on a variety of contraception topics. Search the association's physician directory to find a specialist.
  • Sterilization for Women and Men
  • Progestin-Only Hormonal Birth Control: Pill and Injection
  • Barrier Methods of Contraception
  • Fertility Awareness-Based Methods of Family Planning
  • Sterilization by Laparoscopy
  • Postpartum Sterilization
  • Emergency Contraception
  • Combined Hormonal Birth Control: Pill Patch, and Ring
  • Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC): IUD and Implant
• American Pregnancy Association
  This national health organization is committed to promoting reproductive and pregnancy wellness through education, support, advocacy, and community awareness. The Association offers information on Preventing Pregnancy .
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
  ASRM is a professional association devoted to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive medicine and biology. ASRM offers a tool to find a health professional by area of specialization or location.
  • Fact Sheet: Non-contraceptive Benefits of Birth Control Pills (available in many languages)
  • Fact Sheet: Nonhormonal Contraception (PDF 91 KB)
  • Fact Sheet: Hormonal Contraception (available in many languages)
• Bedsider
  Bedsider is an online birth control support network for women ages 18 to 29. It allows users to compare birth control methods and provides information on how to obtain contraception, including a health center finder .
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Contraception: How effective are birth control methods?
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  FDA's Birth Control: Medicines To Help You publication provides information on various contraception methods and their effectiveness and risks.
• Guttmacher Institute Fact Sheet: Contraceptive Use in the United States
  This fact sheet offers extensive information about contraceptive use in the United States, including who uses contraceptives and what methods they use.
• Healthfinder.gov
  Healthfinder.gov's Birth Control page provides resources on birth control methods, emergency contraception, finding a health center, and more.
• HHS Office on Women's Health
  The Office on Women's Health provides resources, health information, and education for women. Read the Birth control methods fact sheet (PDF 135 KB).
• National Cancer Institute
  Part of NIH, the National Cancer Institute is the principal agency for cancer research and training. Its website includes information on research, clinical trials, statistics, and more. Read Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk.
  • Tools for Educators
• National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus
  Produced by the National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus provides information from the National Institutes of Health about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues. Read about Contraceptives/Birth Control.
• Power to Decide 
  Formerly the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, Power to Decide provides vetted science-based information about reproductive health, including birth control, to advance sexual and reproductive well-being for all.
  • Bedsider is Power to Decide’s website about birth control and sexual health. Intended for young people, it provides information and resources.
  • Tips for Talking to Teens (About Sexual Health)
  • Busting Birth Control Myths

Please note: Links to organizations and information included on this page do not indicate endorsement from NICHD, NIH, or HHS.

• NICHD Resources
  • Assessment of the Contraceptive Research Activities of the NICHD: Executive Summary (PDF 138 KB)
  • Contraception Research Branch (CRB)-Supported Projects
    NICHD's CRB provides a list of its research studies that are searchable by grant number or fiscal year.
  • Contraceptive Clinical Trials Network (CCTN) 
    The network, funded by the CRB, conducts research on oral, vaginal, intrauterine, injectable, implantable, or topical contraceptive drugs and devices.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Contraceptive Guidance for Health Care Providers
  CDC offers guidance to health care providers, including the U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, advising how to counsel patients about contraceptive method choice and practice guidelines providing information on how contraceptive methods can be used.
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Practice Bulletins
  Practice Bulletins summarize current research and information on techniques and clinical management issues for the practice of obstetrics and gynecology.
  • ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 110: Noncontraceptive Uses of Hormonal Contraceptives
  • ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 121: Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Implants and Intrauterine Devices
  • ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 133: Benefits and Risks of Sterilization
  • ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 152: Emergency Contraception

Please note: Links to organizations and information included on this page do not indicate endorsement from NICHD, NIH, or HHS.