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Combination birth control pills  Birth control pills that contain a combination of estrogen and progestin (progesterone).
Failure rate  The pregnancy rate occurring using a particular contraceptive method; the percentage of women who will be pregnant after a year of use of the method.
Triphasic pill  A birth control pill containing a steady level of estrogen and three phases of progesterone, intended to mimic more closely women's natural hormonal cycles.
Intrauterine device (IUD)  A plastic device sometimes containing metal or a hormone that is inserted into the uterus for contraceptive purposes.
Diaphragm  A cap-shaped rubber contraceptive device that fits inside a woman's vagina over the cervix.
Cervical cap  A method of birth control involving a rubber cap that fits snugly over the cervix.
Male condom  A contraceptive sheath that is placed over the penis.
Spermicide (SPERM-ih-side)  A substance that kills sperm.
Douching (DOOSH-ing)  Flushing out the inside of the vagina with a liquid.
Withdrawal  A method of birth control in which the man withdraws his penis from his partner's vagina before he has an orgasm.
Rhythm (fertility awareness) method  A method of birth control that involves abstaining from intercourse around the time the woman ovulates.
Calendar method  A type of rhythm method of birth control in which the woman determines when she ovulates by keeping a calendar record of the length of her menstrual cycles.
Basal body temperature (BBT) method  A type of rhythm method of birth control in which the woman determines when she ovulates by keeping track of her temperature.
Cervical mucus method  A type of rhythm method of birth control in which the woman determines when she ovulates by checking her cervical mucus.
Sympto-thermal method  A type of rhythm method of birth control combining the basal body temperature method and the cervical mucus method.
Sterilization  A surgical procedure by which an individual is made sterile, that is, incapable of reproducing.
Vasectomy (vas-EK-tuh-mee)  A surgical procedure for male sterilization involving severing of the vas deferens.
Minilaparotomy  A method of female sterilization.
Erotophobes  People who feel guilty and fearful about sex.
Erotophiles  People who feel comfortable with sex, lacking in feelings of guilt and fear about sex.
Abortion  The termination of a pregnancy.
Vacuum aspiration  A method of abortion that is performed during the first trimester and involves suctioning out the contents of the uterus.
Hysterotomy  A surgical method of abortion done in the late second trimester.
Mifepristone (RU-486)  The "abortion pill."







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