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BIRTH CONTROL METHOD COMPARISONS

The following chart compares the failure rate of some popular reversible contraceptives. All methods of birth control can fail, even if used perfectly. Discuss the possibility of pregnancy with your partner before becoming sexually active.

 

BIRTH CONTROL FAILURE RATES

for women in the U.S. during the first year of use. 1,2
  Annual Failure Rate per 100*

Method of Birth Control

Perfect Use 1

Actual Use 1,2

Abstinence

0

0

Spermicides

6

28 2

Male Condoms

3

15 2

Female Condoms

5

21

Diaphragm

6

20

Cervical Cap (w/o prior pregnancy)

9

18

Cervical Cap (w/ prior pregnancy)

26

40

Ovulation Method

3

25

Sympto-Thermal Method

2

25

Post-Ovulatory NFP

1

25

Calendar Method

9

25

Withdrawal

4

26 2

Combined Oral Contraceptives

0.1

8.5 2

The Mini-Pill

 0.5

1-13

Norplant

 0.05

2 2

Depo-Provera

 0.3

3.5 2

IUD

 0.6-1.5

0.8-3

No Method

 85

85

 

*Failure rates are based on the number of pregnancies occurring when 100 women use the method for the first year. Perfect Use refers to the method being use perfectly and consistently. Actual Use refers to the probability of pregnancy during use of a contraceptive method in the general population. Data from Fu et al. (1999) is corrected for abortion underreporting with data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth.

 

 

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1.  Hatcher R.A. (1998) Contraceptive Technology, 17th ed. Ardent Media, New York.  pp 800.

2.  Fu H., Darroch J.E., Haas T., Ranjit N. (1999) Contraceptive failure rates: New esitmates from the 1995 national survey of family growth. Fam. Plann. Perspect. 31, 56-63.