You’ve heard of the Pill—the mother of all hormonal birth control methods. Pretty common, right? Well, just being able to get the Pill used to be a big deal! In the early 1960’s, you couldn’t get the Pill if you were unmarried or lived in certain states with laws prohibiting the use of birth control. Married women in the United States couldn’t get it until 1965. And the Pill was finally made available to unmarried women in 1972. Can you imagine living back then?

Today, we’ve got lots of options when it comes to hormonal birth control methods, and they’re widely available. You’ve probably seen commercials for Seasonale, which gives you four periods a year, or Lybrel, which keeps you from getting your period at all. And now, of course, there’s also the patch and the ring.

These are all hormonal birth control methods, which prevent pregnancy by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulating). But there’s so many of them, it can be confusing. Here, we break them down for you.

The Pill
More than 99-percent effective at preventing pregnancy, when taken every day at around the same time

The Pill today has a lower dose of hormones in it than in the early days. But it’s still effective and works the same way by releasing hormones that prevent you from ovulating. But if you’re one to easily forget something like taking a pill every day, this method is not for you.

Lybrel
98- to 99-percent effective at preventing pregnancy, when taken every day at around the same time

If you like to get your period, then Lybrel is definitely not for you. Lybrel is taken every day, and as long as you take the pills, you won’t get your period. You’ll definitely save money from not having to buy all those tampons!

Seasonale/Seasonique
More than 99-percent effective at preventing pregnancy, when taken every day at around the same time

Just as there are four seasons in a year, your period only comes four times every year with Seasonale or Seasonique. Like the Pill and Lybrel, you have to take Seasonale or Seasonique every day at around the same time for it to work.

Depo-Provera or “The Shot”
More than 99-percent effective at preventing pregnancy

Are you afraid of needles? Then Depo-Provera isn’t for you. But if you’re someone who can’t remember to take a pill, Depo-Provera might work for you. The shot is injected into your arm or buttock every 12 weeks.

NuvaRing or “The Ring”
99-percent effective at preventing pregnancy when used correctly each month

NuvaRing is a soft, flexible and transparent ring that you have to place in the back of your vagina. It’s worn for three weeks each month and then removed the fourth week. Two to three days after it's removed, you get your period.

Ortho Evra or “The Patch”
More than 99-percent effective, when used correctly

So, maybe you don’t like needles, can’t remember to take a pill and just aren’t comfortable enough to insert a ring into your vagina. Well, Ortho Evra (“the patch”) might be right for you. It looks a lot like an oversized Band-Aid. A new patch is placed on your upper shoulder, buttocks, abdomen or upper arm each week for three weeks. The fourth week—during your period—you don’t wear a patch.

Emergency Contraception (EC) or “The Morning-After Pill”

If you have unprotected sex and the condom breaks or you forgot to take your pill, or if you’re raped, emergency contraception (EC) is here for you. It’s a high dose of birth control pills that a female can take up to five days after having unprotected sexual intercourse. Plan B is the name brand of EC. If it’s taken within three days of unprotected sex, it prevents pregnancy about 75 to 89 percent of the time. So, the sooner you take it, the better.

Hormonal birth control has to be prescribed by your doctor, and not every form of hormonal birth control is right for everyone. So, talk to your healthcare provider about potential risks and side effects. Find a doctor here. Or call 1(800) 230-PLAN (7526) for the nearest Planned Parenthood Health Center.

Hormonal birth control methods are effective at preventing pregnancy. But they won’t protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), so you should always use condoms. Remember that not having sex is the only way to guarantee that you won’t get an STD or get pregnant.