My boyfriend and I aren't ready to have sex yet, but we want to be prepared for the future. What kinds of birth control work best against pregnancy and STDs?
– Ellie*

The best protection against both pregnancy and STDs is actually to use two methods of birth control at the same time:

• a barrier method (condom) to protect against STDs, and
• a hormonal method (like the Pill), because these have the highest protection rates against pregnancy

Of all the different types of birth control, condoms do the best job of protecting against STDs. When used correctly, condoms are also fairly effective at protecting against pregnancy — but they're not as successful as hormonal methods like the Pill, patch, ring, or birth control shot.

Hormonal birth control methods are not suitable for everyone, though. For example, they can be less effective or more risky to take if a girl has certain medical conditions. Because of this — and because several different hormonal methods are on the market — the ideal way to learn what's best for you and your partner is to visit your doctor or a local family planning clinic.

For more information on the effectiveness of different types of birth control (and any side effects), check out these articles:
Birth Control Methods: How Well Do They Work?
About Birth Control: What You Need to Know
About Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Birth Control: Condom
Talking to Your Doctor

Reviewed by: Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: September 2007

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*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.