Control is a regimen of one or more actions, devices, or medications followed in order to deliberately prevent or reduce the likelihood of a woman giving birth or becoming pregnant. Methods and intentions typically termed birth control may be considered a pivotal ingredient to family planning. Mechanisms which are intended to reduce the likelihood of the fertilization of an ovum by a spermatozoon may more specifically be referred to as contraception. Contraception differs from abortion in that the former prevents fertilization, while the latter terminates an already established pregnancy. Methods of birth control which may prevent the implantation of an embryo if fertilization occurs are medically considered to be contraception but characterized by some opponents as abortifacients. Birth control is a controversial political and ethical issue in many cultures and religions, and although it is generally less controversial than abortion specifically, it is still opposed by many. There are various degrees of opposition, including those who oppose all forms of birth control short of sexual abstinence; those who oppose forms of birth control they deem "unnatural," while allowing natural family planning; and those who support most forms of birth control that prevent fertilization, but oppose any method of birth control which prevents a fertilized embryo from attaching to the uterus and initiating a pregnancy. Natural Family Planning Natural family planning, also called periodic abstinence, requires users to practice abstinence during the fertile period of a woman's menstrual cycle. Clients using natural family planning may use one technique or a combination of techniques to identify the start and end of a woman's fertile period. Natural family planning can be very effective when clients are properly trained and counseled and when they are motivated to avoid unprotected intercourse for a week or more each month. For other women, however, failure rates can be quite high. The method has no side effects. No medical condition restricts a client's eligibility for use of the method.

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