3. CONSIDER NATURAL METHODS

Unless your religious beliefs preclude you from using one of our already discussed methods, we highly suggest that you reserve using "natural methods" for a time when you WANT to get pregnant; they are really useful in predicting when you are fertile (feel like a plot of farmland?). Using natural methods can be time-consuming, and they are also extremely unreliable. But they're also free, so you might as well educate yourself.

The rhythm method

The rhythm method involves figuring out when your body is most likely to get pregnant and then avoiding sex during those times. You can do this by taking your temperature in the morning (your temperature goes up during ovulation), examining your cervical mucus (sorry, we had to list it), and charting your periods on a calendar (learn how to at the Planned Parenthood site). Although the rhythm method is a good predictor of ovulation, "good" does not equal "great," especially for women whose menstrual cycles aren't predictable. Furthermore, sperm can live in the body for up to 7 days, and therefore, practicing a natural method perfectly means that you will have to abstain from sex for 10 days or more during every menstrual cycle. The benefit of the rhythm method, however, is that if you're trying to get pregnant, you'll know exactly when you should do the deed.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal is exactly what it sounds like: when the man feels that he is about to ejaculate, he pulls himself out of the woman, so that the semen doesn't enter the vagina. Withdrawal is fine and dandy if you're using it with another form of birth control for added protection, but it should NEVER be your sole form of birth control. First of all, withdrawal requires more vigorous self-control than most men possess (and let's not forget those one-minute wonders out there who hardly know themselves when the big moment arrives). Second of all, even if your partner does pull out before he ejaculates, there is enough sperm in pre-ejaculate to cause pregnancy. So even if you trust him, his early swimmers can still cause you problems.

Abstinence

Abstinence is the only form of natural birth control that works 100% (unless your name is Mary and the year is 0). It basically involves not having sex. Tough, huh?