Hormonal contraception (birth control) contains hormones — either estrogen and progesterone or just progesterone. It usually acts to prevent ovulation or thicken cervical mucus to prevent pregnancy. Non-hormonal birth control doesn't contain any hormones and includes condoms, vaginal gel, spermicides, fertility awareness methods such as tracking fertile days, sterilization or tubal ligation, and the copper intrauterine device (IUD). Less commonly, some women opt for a cervical cap, diaphragm or sponge.