With the combinational pill, you have different mixtures, active and inactive. These allow you to decide when you will have your period. The conventional packs typically contain 21 active pills and seven inactive, with periods occurring when you take the inactive pills. Combination pills also have varying doses of hormones, which can remain the same or change.

With continuous dosing, you have 84 active pills and seven inactive. Menstruation will only happen four times a year when taking the inactive pills.

While both birth control pills work to regular ovulation, the combination will also work on thickening cervical mucus and thinning your uterus lining. The mini pill does the same but uses the lower dose of progestin to achieve its results.

Talk to your medical professional about which is right for you, particularly if you are older than 35, smoke, are breastfeeding, have high blood pressure, deep vein thrombosis or a history of pulmonary embolisms.

Other Common Types

Here are some of the most popular methods of preventing pregnancies:

1) Intrauterine devices – Known by its acronym, IUD, this is a small piece of T-shaped plastic implanted in the uterus by a doctor or nurse. There are two kinds of IUDs that most people use – the copper IUD,also known as Paragard, which releases a small amount of copper that prevents the sperm from fertilizing the egg. This can last up to a decade, making it a good choice for long-term birth control. The hormonal IUD is inserted into the uterus and releases hormones that prevent pregnancy on a regular basis. There are three types of hormonal IUDs, with effective use ranges from three years to five years. Brand names include Skyla and Mirena. It's painless and unnoticeable, and once inserted, there is nothing else to be done, making it an effective tool for those on busy schedules who are concerned about taking a regular pill or remembering some other method. The devices are also easily removable in case pregnancy plans change.