Some birth control methods work better than others. The chart on the following
page compares how well different birth control methods work.
The most effective way to prevent pregnancy is
. However, within the
first year of committing to abstinence, many couples become pregnant because they
have sex anyway but don't use protection. So it's a good idea even for people who
don't plan to have sex to be informed about birth control.
Couples who do have sex need to use birth control properly and every
time to prevent pregnancy. For example, the birth control pill can be effective
in preventing pregnancy. But if a girl forgets to take her pills, this isn't an effective
method for her. Condoms can be an effective form of birth control, too. But if a guy
forgets to use a condom or doesn't use it correctly, it's not an effective way for
him to prevent pregnancy.
For every 100 couples using each type of birth control, the chart shows how many
of these couples will get pregnant within a year. The information shown is for all
couples, not just teenage couples. Some birth control methods may be less effective
for teen users. For example, teenage girls who use fertility awareness (also called the
rhythm method) may have an even greater chance of getting pregnant than adult
women because their bodies have not yet settled into a regular menstrual cycle.
We list the effectiveness of different birth control methods based on their
typical use rates. Typical use refers to how the average person uses that method of
birth control (compared with "perfect" use, which means no mistakes are
made in using that method).
A birth control method that is rated:
completely effective means that no couples will become pregnant
while using that method
very effective means that between 1 and 2 out of 100 couples
become pregnant while using that method
effective means that 2 to 12 out of 100 couples become pregnant
while using that method
moderately effective means that 13 to 20 out of 100 couples become
pregnant while using that method
less effective means that 21 to 40 out of 100 couples become
pregnant while using that method
not effective means that more than 40 out of 100 couples become
pregnant while using that method
In addition to preventing pregnancy, abstinence and condoms provide some protection
against sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs). However, most other birth control methods do not provide much protection
against STDs, so condoms should also be used.
Birth Control Methods: Comparison Chart
Method of Birth Control
How Many Couples Using This Method Will Get Pregnant in a
Year?
How Well Does This Method Work in Preventing Pregnancy?
Choosing a birth control method based on how well it works is important, but there
are other things to keep in mind when choosing a form of birth control. These include:
how easy the birth control method is to use
how much it costs
whether a person has a health condition or takes medicine that will affect
how well a particular birth control method works
