Birth Control Birth Control
Nuns and others opposed to the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate rally outside the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday. Drew Angerer/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption
How many guys know about Plan B? Photo illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption
Five-month-old Ronan Amador rides in a carrier with his mother, Elizabeth Mahoney, during a Planned Parenthood rally on the steps of the Texas Capitol on March 7, 2013, in Austin. Eric Gay/AP hide caption
Birth control pills are 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy, research shows — but only if you remember to take them as prescribed. Rod-shaped implants, T-shaped IUDs and vaginal rings are other options. BSIP/Science Source hide caption
The Supreme Court will hear another challenge to the Affordable Care Act about religious objections to providing contraception. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters /Landov hide caption
New York City's health department launched the "Maybe the IUD" campaign this week, aimed at increasing awareness about the IUD as a highly effective and low-maintenance option for birth control. iStock hide caption
Bayer HealthCare, of Whippany, N.J., brought Essure to market in 2002 as a nonsurgical alternative for women seeking sterilization. Bayer acknowledges the device can lead to complications, but says they are rare. Julio Cortez/AP hide caption
The Essure contraceptive device is placed in the fallopian tubes, where it causes scarring that blocks sperm from reaching eggs. Courtesy of Bayer HealthCare hide caption
Amanda Dykeman, 33, of Coal Valley, Ill., had Essure devices removed after having multiple health problems. Tara Haelle for NPR hide caption
Birth control used to be a big part of young women's out-of-pocket health costs. iStockphoto hide caption
When health care providers have the latest information on various birth control methods, research suggests, more of their patients who use birth control choose a long-acting reversible method, like the IUD. iStockphoto hide caption
Will the health plan pay for the contraceptives the doctor prescribes? MediaforMedical/Emmanuel Rogue/Getty Images hide caption
University of Notre Dame contends that the act of signing a form opting out of the Affordable Care Act's birth control mandate makes the school complicit in providing coverage. Getty Images hide caption
Pope Francis waves to the crowd in Manila, capital of the Philippines, before boarding his flight back to Rome on Monday. Aaron Favila/AP hide caption