Birth control

Definition

Birth control refers to practices employed by couples that permit sexual intercourse with reduced likelihood of conception and birth. Birth control includes contraception and abortion.

Relation with similar ideas

Family planning

Further information: Family planning

There is considerable overlap between the concepts of family planning and birth control. However, they differ in two important respects:

• Sexual abstinence may be a component of family planning, but it is not considered a component of birth control.
• Family planning may also include strategies that help with conception, whereas the term birth control exclusively refers to strategies to reduce the likelihood of births (through either contraception or abortion).

Contraception

Further information: Contraception

Birth control and contraception are closely related, but there are important differences:

• Abortion is a method of birth control, but is not included under contraception, which is focused on avoiding unintended consequences of sexual intercourse.
• Contraception may be undertaken for reasons other than avoiding unintended pregnancies. The most typical alternative reason is the avoidance of sexually transmitted diseases, but contraception may also be undertaken for medical reasons or because of personal preferences (i.e., some people might get more sexual pleasure through the use of contraceptives).