Single and hooking up
With your work-all-day/party-all-night life, you can barely keep track of your cell phone, much less the name of that shag last week. You'd rather die than be tied down—by a guy or a baby—hell, you don't have health insurance.
You need: Cheap, reliable birth control and protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Latex condoms are a must. Consider backing up with the Pill, the patch, or the implant.
Between partners
You're in a dry spell, but who cares? You've got that whole group you bike with, brunch with, blog about. You're cautious about things (you don't even send personal e-mails from work). You want to be ready, but a daily pill feels like overkill—though a baby would be worse.
You need: Condoms for STD protection when the time comes. Also consider the ring or a diaphragm/cervical cap as backup.
Happy (and horny) together
You boinked on the kitchen table, on the fire escape, in the hallway—and that was just last night. Celebs stay off coke better than you stay off each other—babies would totally crash the party.
You need: Hormonal methods, like the Pill, the ring, the Mirena IUD, the implant, the patch, or injections, which allow for plenty of whenever-wherever sex.
Anxious about hormones
You're on fire: The CEO is calling you for advice and your guy is hot, horny, and mostly available. Last thing you want is 1) a kid, and 2) bloat, moodiness, or concerns about whether there's some weird, long-term hormone issue that hasn't been discovered yet.
You need: The hormone-free copper IUD (ParaGard). If you're willing to deal with a little pre-sex prep, also consider: natural family planning, a diaphragm/cervical cap, and/or condoms.
Thinking "maybe baby"
Kids are definitely on the menu, but you're not ready to order yet. If it happened by accident, no big: You and your guy have already talked about where you'd put the crib.
You need: A method that lets you potentially start baby-making tomorrow—like condoms or a diaphragm/cervical cap. Since you're not worried about failure rates, also consider the sponge or natural family planning.
Post-kids
and want to stay that way Babies? Been there, done that, and while you love the ones you have, another would be a disaster.
You need: Reliability. And if you're over 35, you probably want something with-out hormones. Sterilization is your most reliable option, but if permanence scares you, consider the ParaGard IUD.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
-
Suki Waterhouse and Robert Pattinson Welcome Their First Child Together
The new family of three were spotted together in L.A.
By Fleurine Tideman Published
-
Katie Holmes's Wardrobe Staple Era Is (Temporarily) Over
She traded her reliable camel coat for a trending denim trench.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Sydney Sweeney Admits She Only Needs About Two Hours of Sleep Per Night—and Has Never Tried Coffee
Okay, but how?
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
The 22 Best Vibrators, According to Sex Toy Experts
The best options, for every preference and price range.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Last updated
-
The Best Period Sex Tips, According to Sex Experts
Who says messy can't be sexy?
By Gabrielle Ulubay Last updated
-
The 20 Best Sex Games for Couples in 2023
Who said game nights need to be wholesome?
By Gabrielle Ulubay Last updated
-
The 14 Best Lubes for Every Need
Good sex should always go smoothly.
By Gabrielle Ulubay Last updated
-
COVID Forced My Polyamorous Marriage to Become Monogamous
For Melanie LaForce, pandemic-induced social distancing guidelines meant she could no longer see men outside of her marriage. But monogamy didn't just change her relationship with her husband—it changed her relationship with herself.
By Melanie LaForce Published
-
100 Sex Songs That Won't Make You Cringe
Dim the lights and hit play on this sex songs — the perfect playlist of songs to have sex to.
By The Editors Published
-
75 Real Sex Scenes in Movies
These actors aren't faking anything.
By Mehera Bonner Last updated
-
33 Unexpected Valentine's Day 2023 Date Ideas
A.k.a. not dinner and roses.
By The Editors Published