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Protection of Conscience Project

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Background

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Approved Methods of Birth Control


Introduction

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves drugs and devices that are used for birth control, offering a list of different kinds of birth control in a Birth Control Guide.  It refers globally to all of these birth control methods as "contraception" or "contraceptives."

This terminology is highly contentious because it includes surgical sterilization, and because it ignores differences in the mechanisms of action of some products that are considered morally significant by many people.  It has now become legally significant because of a Department of Health and Human Services regulation that will force all insurance plans to provide coverage for anything the Food and Drug Administration has approved as a 'contraceptive.'

The regulation has launched a firestorm of protest across the United States.  It is generating lawsuits against the U.S. federal government, as well as legislation in some states to prevent the regulation from taking effect. 

The following table classifies birth control methods listed in the FDA Birth Control Guide  as "contraceptive", "embryocide" or "abortifacient" according to their reported mechanism of action.  Some drugs or devices may have more than one mechanism of action.

The classification here uses the following definitions:

  • Contraceptive: a drug or device that prevents or may prevent the union of sperm and egg, thus preventing the formation of an embryo.
  • Embryocide: a drug or device that causes or may cause the death of a human embryo before implantation in the uterus.
  • Abortifacient: a drug or device that causes or may cause the death of a human embryo or foetus after implantation in the uterus.

For more detailed explanation of this terminology, see Clearing Rhetorical Minefields.

- Administrator

Kinds of Birth Control
Listed in the FDA Birth Control Guide
(Accessed 2012-10-15)
Method
 
Mechanism of action

Sterilization

   
  • Surgery for women
 

Destruction of part of reproductive organ

  • Implant for women
 

Permanent impairment of part of reproductive organ1

  • Surgery for men
 

Destruction of part of reproductive organ

Implantable rod

 

Contraceptive
Embryocide

Intra Uterine Device (IUD)

 

 

  • Copper IUD
 

Contraceptive
Embryocide

  • Hormonal (Progestin) IUD
 

Contraceptive
Embryocide

Shot/Injection

 

Contraceptive
Embryocide

Oral contraceptives

   
  • Combined pill
    • Estrogen and progestin
 

Contraceptive
Embryocide

  • Progestin only (POP, minipill)
 

Contraceptive
Embryocide

Patch

 

Contraceptive
Embryocide

Vaginal contraceptive ring

 

Contraceptive
Embryocide

Male condom

 

Contraceptive

Diaphragm with spermicide

 

Contraceptive

Sponge with spermicide

 

Contraceptive

Cervical cap with spermicide

 

Contraceptive

Female condom

 

Contraceptive

Spermicide

 

Contraceptive

Emergency contraception

   
  • Progestin-only
    • Plan B
    • Plan B One Step
    • Next Choice
  Contraceptive
Embryocide
  • Antiprogestin (Progesterone Agonist/Antagonist)
    • Ella
  Contraceptive
Embryocide
     
Notes
1.  Hysteroscopic Tubal Sterilization is a proceudre that involves the implantation of a tubal occlusion device (TOD) in the fallopian tubes.  This elicits a benign tissue response, causing tissue to grow into the device and block the tube.



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