Do diaphragms work? Should you stay on the pill? What does fertility awareness really mean? The efficacy and risks of different birth control options are dramatically different today from what they once were thanks to scientific advances and increased awareness of STDs and other factors. In the most comprehensive book on birth control since the 1970s, women’s health activist Laura Eldridge discusses the history, scientific advances, and practical uses of everything from condoms to the male pill to Plan B.

Eldridge presents her meticulous research and unbiased consideration of our options in the intimate and honest tone of a close friend. Eldridge goes on to explore large-scale issues that might factor into women’s birth control choices, urging her readers to consider the environmental impacts of each method and to take part in a dialogue on how international reproductive health issues affect us all.

Whether you’re looking for your first birth control method or want to know more about your current contraceptive choice, A Field Guide to Birth Control offers the cutting-edge information and practical wisdom you’ll need to make empowered decisions about your sexual health.

Laura Eldridge is a women’s health writer and activist living in Brooklyn, New York. Her latest books are The No-Nonsense Guide to Menopause and Body Politic, with Barbara Seaman.