Final answer:
Contraception is the preventative measure to avoid pregnancy by preventing the sperm and egg from joining. Methods include hormonal contraception, barrier methods, and emergency contraception post-intercourse.
Step-by-step explanation:
Contraception is defined as the prevention of pregnancy. This encompasses a variety of methods and devices to prevent pregnancy. Primarily, contraception aims to prevent the sperm and egg from meeting, which is essential for conception to occur. The term birth control is frequently used interchangeably with contraception, though it can also be broader in scope. Contraceptive methods include barrier methods, hormonal contraception, intrauterine devices (IUDs), behavioral methods, and sterilization. Hormonal methods of contraception involve the use of hormones to prevent ovulation. These hormones can be estrogen and/or progestin and may be administered in various forms such as pills, patches, injections, or implants. Oral contraceptives, commonly referred to as "the pill", are taken daily and contain a combination of estrogen and progestin to prevent ovulation and create conditions less favorable for sperm-egg union. Emergency contraception is another form of birth control used after unprotected intercourse to prevent pregnancy.