birth control
noun
1
: deliberate prevention of conception or impregnation (as by use of birth control pills, IUDs, condoms, coitus interruptus, vasectomy, or tubal ligation) : contraception sense 1
Male sterilization, known as vasectomy, is the only long-acting method of birth control available to men …—
Richard V. Reeves and Eleanor Krause
Richard V. Reeves and Eleanor Krause… the rise in use of fertility apps and period trackers suggests women are keen for a hormone-free form of birth control.—Nicola Davis and Niamh McIntyre
—sometimes hyphenated before a nounNicola Davis and Niamh McIntyrebirth-control options
These clinics … provide all the birth-control methods for free.—Robert Abbott
Robert Abbott2
: devices or preparations designed to prevent conception
especially
: devices or preparations (such as IUDs or birth control pills) that typically contain progestin either alone or in combination with estrogen and that prevent ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, or thin the uterine lining in order to prevent conception : contraception sense 2
Enabling pharmacists to prescribe birth control will improve access to this medication, especially in rural and underserved areas where access to reproductive health care is limited. —The Newtown (Connecticut) Bee
see also birth control pill
The Newtown (Connecticut) Bee Examples of birth control in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People that are not able to stay pregnant because of health conditions, birth control failing, or having several children at home.
—Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
Other groups are trying to democratize birth control and mifepristone access via telehealth, though both of these remain tenuous propositions in many places across the U.S.
A design team should include individuals from communities of intended users.
—Catherine M. Klapperich, STAT, 12 Apr. 2024
Now, citing advancements in rodent birth control and trash storage, the City Council wants to try again.
—Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Your periods may also be affected by hormones taken for birth control or pregnancy.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 4 Apr. 2024
Studies show that many women who stop using birth control do so because of side effects.
—Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Chan said birth control can be a good option for some, but not all, of her PCOS patients.
—Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
The law hasn’t been enforced in decades, but up through the 1930s, it was repeatedly used to prosecute people for mailing birth control devices or even medical texts about contraception.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Most birth control pills are up to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy if taken as instructed.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2024
Other groups are trying to democratize birth control and mifepristone access via telehealth, though both of these remain tenuous propositions in many places across the U.S.
A design team should include individuals from communities of intended users.
—Catherine M. Klapperich, STAT, 12 Apr. 2024
Now, citing advancements in rodent birth control and trash storage, the City Council wants to try again.
—Emma G. Fitzsimmons, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Your periods may also be affected by hormones taken for birth control or pregnancy.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 4 Apr. 2024
Studies show that many women who stop using birth control do so because of side effects.
—Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Chan said birth control can be a good option for some, but not all, of her PCOS patients.
—Caroline Hopkins, NBC News, 31 Mar. 2024
The law hasn’t been enforced in decades, but up through the 1930s, it was repeatedly used to prosecute people for mailing birth control devices or even medical texts about contraception.
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Most birth control pills are up to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy if taken as instructed.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'birth control.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near birth control
Cite this Entry
“Birth control.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birth%20control. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
birth control
noun1
: deliberate prevention of conception or impregnation (as by use of birth control pills, IUDs, condoms, coitus interruptus, vasectomy, or tubal ligation) : contraception sense 1
… after careful consideration of the various types of birth control available, a woman may choose a diaphragm (see diaphragm sense 3) as her major method of pregnancy protection. … It is not necessary for her to rethink all of the birth control options every time she has sex.—James Jaccard et al., New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development
—sometimes hyphenated when used before another nounJames Jaccard et al., New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development… family planning services through programs such as Medicaid and Title X, which have been critical in reducing costs and expanding access for low-income women to the birth-control method of their choice.—Cecile Richards, The New England Journal of Medicine
Cecile Richards, The New England Journal of Medicine2
: devices or preparations designed to prevent conception
especially
: devices or preparations (such as IUDs or birth control pills) that typically contain progestin either alone or in combination with estrogen and that stop ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, or thin the uterine lining in order to prevent conception : contraception sense 2
For women of many identities, oral birth control represents an affordable, non-invasive, and effective means of family planning. —Susannah Iles, Michigan Journal of Gender and Law
see also birth control pill
Susannah Iles, Michigan Journal of Gender and Law Love words? Need even more definitions?
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