Birth Control Efficacy Statistics
The following chart listing the efficacy of various birth control methods is produced by Contracept.org, and used by permission.
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|
FAILURE RATES
|
MECHANISM OF ACTION
|
STD |
USER |
||||
| method of birth control |
perfect use
|
actual use
|
prevents fertilization
|
prevents implantation
|
postpone sex
|
protection
|
continuation rates
|
| No Method |
85
|
85
|
|||||
| Spermicides |
18
|
29
|
++++
|
+
|
42
|
||
| Male Condoms |
2
|
15
|
++++
|
++
|
53
|
||
| Female Condoms |
5
|
21
|
++++
|
++
|
49
|
||
| Diaphragm |
6
|
16
|
++++
|
+
|
57
|
||
| Cervical FemCap w/o prior pregnancy |
4
|
14
|
++++
|
+
|
57
|
||
| Sponge w/o prior pregnancy |
9
|
16
|
++++
|
+
|
57
|
||
| Sponge w/ prior pregnancy |
20
|
32
|
++++
|
+
|
46
|
||
| Ovulation Method |
3
|
22
|
+++
|
+
|
51
|
||
| Sympto-Thermal |
2.5
|
16
|
+++
|
+
|
51
|
||
| Standard Days Method |
5
|
12
|
+++
|
+
|
|||
| Calendar Method |
5
|
13-20
|
+++
|
+
|
51
|
||
| Lactation (LAM) |
0.5
|
6
|
++++
|
||||
| Withdrawal |
4
|
27
|
++++
|
+
|
43
|
||
| Oral Contraceptives |
0.3
|
8
|
+++
|
+
|
68
|
||
| Ortho Evra Patch |
0.3
|
8
|
+++
|
+
|
68
|
||
| Nuva Ring |
0.3
|
8
|
+++
|
+
|
68
|
||
| Shot (Depo-Provera) |
0.3
|
3
|
+++
|
+
|
56
|
||
| Shot (Lunelle) |
0.05
|
3
|
+++
|
+
|
59
|
||
| IUD (ParaGard Copper) |
0.8
|
0.6
|
++
|
++
|
80
|
||
| IUD (Mirena) |
0.1
|
0.1
|
++
|
++
|
80
|
||
| Abstinence |
0
|
0
|
++++
|
++++
|
++++
|
||