The most basic and cheapest form of contraception is abstinence (not engaging in sexual intercourse at all). However, abstaining from sex can cause great stress and frustration in some, since the human sex drive can be quite powerful.

A variation on abstinence is fertility awareness (also known as "natural family planning"). This method involves a couple avoiding intercourse during the times that the woman is most likely to be fertile. This method requires that the woman be very aware of her own body and her reproductive cycle; some estimate that this method has a 70%-98% rate of success, depending on the regularity of the woman's cycle and the specific monitoring technique used. Signs that a woman has ovulated (and is therefore fertile) include a sudden change in basal body temperature, changes in vaginal mucus, or a combination of the two. A woman is least likely to be fertile during her menstrual period and for a few days thereafter.

Barrier methods of birth control work by preventing sperm from reaching the egg. Barrier methods work best in conjunction with spermicides (creams or jellies that contain chemicals that kill sperm and sometimes disease-causing microorganisms). Because barrier methods also prevent the exchange of body fluids to varying degrees, they are also useful in preventing the transmission of venereal diseases. Barrier methods include:

• condoms
• female condoms
• diaphragms
• cervical caps
• contraceptive sponges