How Effective Is Contraception?
Method |
Percentage of Women Who Become Pregnant During the First Year of Perfect Use* |
Percentage of Women Who Become Pregnant During the First Year of Typical Use* |
Hormonal methods (with estrogen and/or a progestin) |
||
|
Contraceptive implant inserted under the skin |
0.05% |
Same as perfect use |
|
0.3% |
9% |
|
|
Injection of medroxyprogesterone acetate (a progestin) |
0.2% |
6% |
|
0.2–0.5%, depending on the type used |
Same as perfect use |
|
|
0.3% |
9% |
|
|
0.3% |
9% |
|
Barrier contraceptives |
||
|
Cervical cap with spermicide |
— |
8% (higher among women who have had children) |
|
2% with male condoms 5% with female condoms |
18% with male condoms 21% with female condoms |
|
|
Contraceptive sponge (which releases spermicide continuously) |
9% for women who have not had children 20% for women who have had children |
12% for women who have not had children 24% for women who have had children |
|
Diaphragm with spermicide |
6% |
12% |
Other methods |
||
|
0.6% |
Same as perfect use |
|
|
4% or higher, depending on the method |
24% |
|
|
Withdrawal method (coitus interruptus) |
4% |
22% |
|
* About 85% of women become pregnant during 1 year of frequent intercourse if no contraception is used. |
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