This book provides healthcare professionals, the medical community, residents and students with an up-to-date handbook on current female and male contraceptive options.   It illustrates the process of contraceptive development, from ancient times to steroid discovery up to the most recent formulations that provide not only an optimal contraceptive efficacy but also complimentary health benefits for women. It offers a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on this topic, ranging from biological contraceptive mechanisms to the challenges of contraceptive use in different clinical conditions. It also presents reviews of the current latest, including preclinical and clinical research, to provide detailed and up-to-date information on recently developed contraceptives.   It also features a section on counseling, which is highly relevant to optimal contraceptive provision and compliance.