Learning About How Well Birth Control Options Work

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Before choosing birth control, you may want to compare how well each option works. Some birth control options prevent pregnancy better than others.

Comparing birth control options

How well each birth control option works is given as a percentage. The closer the percentage is to 100%, the better that option works to prevent pregnancy. This is during the first year of typical use. Using no birth control works about 15% of the time.

Implant

More than 99%

Lasts up to 5 years.

IUD

More than 99%

Lasts for 3 to 12 years.

Sterilization

More than 99%

Usually is permanent.

Shot (injection)

96%

Get every 3 months.

Pill

93%

Take daily.

Patch

93%

Change every week.

Vaginal ring

93%

Change about every 3 weeks.

Male condom

87%

Use each time you have vaginal sex.

Fertility awareness

85%

Track daily, and avoid vaginal sex when you're fertile.

Cervical cap

68% to 84%

Use each time you have vaginal sex.

Diaphragm

83%

Use each time you have vaginal sex.

Sponge

73% to 86%

Use each time you have vaginal sex.

Withdrawal

80%

Use each time you have vaginal sex.

Spermicide

79%

Use each time you have vaginal sex.

Female condom

79%

Use each time you have vaginal sex.

Comparing emergency contraception

Emergency contraception is a backup method to birth control. You can use it if you didn't use birth control or your birth control method failed. There are two types. They are IUDs and pills. How well each works is given as a percentage. The closer the percentage is to 100%, the better that option works to prevent pregnancy.

IUD

More than 99%

Use within 5 days. It's placed by your doctor.

Ulipristal pill

98% to 99%

Use within 5 days. Get it from your doctor (prescription).

Levonorgestrel pill

97% to 98%

Use within 3 days. Buy it at a drugstore (no prescription).

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Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. Not all treatments or services described are covered benefits for Kaiser Permanente members or offered as services by Kaiser Permanente. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description. For recommended treatments, please consult with your health care provider.