Introduction

Every woman who is sexually active should consider the implications of her behavior. It does take "two to tango," and men, too, should be aware of their responsibilities. However, this pathfinder will focus on information sources that will help women looking for information to be able to better choose a method right for them, as it does not suffice to rely upon one's partner to control the situation. Birth control ideally should be discussed and decided upon by both partners. Unfortunately this is frequently not the case either because of lack of knowledge about the reliability of certain methods by both sexes, or due to feelings of discomfort related to talking about the subject with one's partner. Not only can "unprotected" sex result in sexually transmitted diseases, but also in pregnancy. Awareness of the functions and reliability of different birth control methods and choosing a method that is appropriate to her situation can greatly reduce a woman's risk of unplanned pregnancy. A sexually active woman should also be aware of her options should she become pregnant.

The works chosen for this pathfinder should help introduce women to the literature and information available on the subject of birth control methods in the context of planned parenthood. It should provide information useful to women who are sexually active and wish to know more about birth control possibilities (barrier methods, hormonal methods, IUDs, surgical methods-sterilization, natural methods) or options in the case of unplanned pregnancy (having the baby, emergency contraception, medical or surgical abortion), and also should help women who are considering which method would be best for them should they become sexually active.