Effectiveness Of Different Types Of Birth Control | Stats

When people talk about birth control, they usually want one thing: a clear sense of how likely each method is to prevent pregnancy in real life. The effectiveness of different types of birth control depends on the method itself and on how closely someone follows the instructions day after day. This article walks through the numbers in plain language so you can compare options and head into a conversation with your clinician feeling prepared.

Health agencies such as the CDC contraceptive effectiveness table and the
WHO family planning fact sheet publish data on how often each method fails in everyday use. Those figures give a solid base for thinking about the effectiveness of different types of birth control across long-acting, hormonal, barrier, permanent, and natural methods.

How Birth Control Effectiveness Is Measured

When you look at charts on the effectiveness of different types of birth control, you’ll see phrases like “pregnancies per 100 people per year.” This means that if 100 people use only that method for a full year, the number on the chart shows how many would still become pregnant during that time.

You’ll also see two slightly different sets of numbers:

• Perfect use: the method is used exactly as directed, every single time.
• Typical use: real life, with late pills, missed appointments, or condoms not used every time.

Most people fall into the typical-use group. That’s why this article focuses on typical-use effectiveness, since that’s the version that matches real daily habits.

Birth Control Methods Ranked By Typical Use

The table below pulls together common methods and how many pregnancies happen with typical use each year. Numbers vary a bit between studies, so think of these as rounded ranges rather than exact counts.

TABLE #1: EARLY, BROAD, IN-DEPTH

Method	Typical Pregnancies Per 100 Users/Year	Effectiveness Summary
Copper IUD	About 0–1	Among the most effective reversible options; no hormones.
Hormonal IUD	About 0–1	Long-acting method that steadily releases progestin.
Implant	About 0–1	Small rod in the arm; works for several years.
Hormonal Shot	About 4	Injection every 1–3 months, depending on brand.
Birth Control Pills	About 7	Daily pill schedule; timing matters for some types.
Patch Or Vaginal Ring	About 7	Weekly patch or monthly ring that releases hormones.
External (Male) Condom	About 13	Also helps lower risk of many sexually transmitted infections.
Internal (Female) Condom	About 21	Lines the vagina; can be placed before sex.
Fertility Awareness Methods	About 2–23	Range depends on which tracking method and how consistently it’s used.
Withdrawal	About 20	Heavily depends on timing and self-control.
Spermicide Alone	About 21–28	Chemical gel or foam; works better with barrier devices.
No Birth Control	About 85	Most people who skip contraception will become pregnant within a year.

Long-acting reversible methods sit at the top of this list for a reason: after insertion, there’s almost nothing to remember. Pills, condoms, and natural tracking methods can also work well, yet their numbers slide when real-life habits come into the picture.

Effectiveness Of Different Types Of Birth Control In Real Life

Data from large studies show that the effectiveness of different types of birth control spreads across a wide range, from fewer than 1 pregnancy per 100 users per year to more than 20. This section breaks methods into clusters so you can see how they compare in everyday use.

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Iuds And Implants

Copper and hormonal IUDs, along with implants placed in the upper arm, are often grouped as long-acting reversible contraception. With typical use, they lead to about 0–1 pregnancies per 100 users per year, which means more than 99 out of 100 users avoid pregnancy each year they rely on them. Large reviews and guidance documents from organizations like WHO show that these methods rank among the most reliable reversible choices when inserted and monitored by trained clinicians.

Once in place, an IUD or implant can last from 3 to 10 years, depending on the device. There’s no daily action, so the usual day-to-day slipups that affect pills or condoms rarely come into play. Removal is possible at any time if someone wants to stop or is ready for pregnancy later on.

Hormonal Shots, Pills, Patches, And Rings

Shots, pills, patches, and vaginal rings all rely on hormones to prevent ovulation, thicken cervical mucus, or both. With perfect use, many of these methods reach numbers near the IUD and implant range. In everyday life, missed doses and late changes pull typical-use effectiveness down to around 4 pregnancies per 100 users per year for shots, and around 7 per 100 users per year for pills, patches, and rings.

The biggest factor here is routine. Daily pills mean a new chance each day to forget or delay a dose. Patches and rings stretch the timing out to weekly or monthly changes, which helps some users stick with the schedule. Shots shift that timing even further, but late appointments or gaps between injections raise pregnancy risk.

Who These Hormonal Methods Often Suit

Hormonal pills, patches, rings, and shots may appeal to people who:

• Prefer a method that can be stopped without a procedure.
• Like having monthly periods or lighter, more predictable cycles.
• Live close enough to clinics or pharmacies to keep up with refills or injections.

These methods aren’t right for everyone. Certain health conditions, a history of blood clots, smoking status, or medications can shape which hormonal options are safe. That’s why a detailed chat with a clinician is so valuable when sorting through these choices.

Barrier Methods: Condoms, Diaphragms, And Sponges

Barrier methods block sperm from reaching the egg. External condoms, internal condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, and contraceptive sponges all work in this way. With typical use, external condoms lead to about 13 pregnancies per 100 users per year, while internal condoms, diaphragms, and sponges often sit in the mid- to upper-teens or low-20s per year.

The standout advantage of condoms is the extra protection they give against many sexually transmitted infections. No other method on this list covers both pregnancy prevention and infection risk in the same way. Many clinicians recommend pairing condoms with another method, such as an IUD or pill, to layer protection.

Diaphragms, cervical caps, and sponges tend to require planning before sex and careful placement with spermicide. These steps can feel a little involved, yet some people like having a non-hormonal choice they can control themselves.

Permanent Birth Control: Tubal Ligation And Vasectomy

Tubal ligation for women and vasectomy for men sit at the high end of effectiveness, usually near the 0–1 pregnancies per 100 users per year range after the waiting period and follow-up tests. Once the procedure takes hold, there’s nothing to remember before sex, and the effect lasts for the long term.

Because these methods are designed to stay in place for life, they’re usually best for people who feel sure they don’t want any pregnancies down the line. Reversal procedures exist, but they don’t always work, and they can be expensive. Anyone leaning toward permanent birth control should spend time talking with a clinician about goals, alternatives, and feelings about pregnancy years from now.

Fertility Awareness Methods And Withdrawal

Fertility awareness methods (sometimes called natural family planning) rely on tracking signs such as temperature, cervical mucus, and cycle length. With careful, trained use, some methods reach low single-digit pregnancy rates. With typical use, though, studies report a broad range, often between 2 and more than 20 pregnancies per 100 users per year, depending on the specific method and how closely couples follow the rules.

Withdrawal, or “pulling out,” hinges on timing and control. Typical-use data show around 20 pregnancies per 100 users per year, a number close to the rates seen with spermicide alone. It may lower risk compared with doing nothing, but it doesn’t match the effectiveness seen with IUDs, implants, or consistent hormonal use.

Comparing The Effectiveness Of Different Types Of Birth Control

When people compare the effectiveness of different types of birth control, it often helps to group methods by how much everyday life can interfere with them. Some work quietly in the background, while others ask for daily or even moment-to-moment attention.

Methods With The Lowest Pregnancy Rates

• Copper and hormonal IUDs – around 0–1 pregnancies per 100 users per year.
• Implants – similar numbers, with multi-year protection.
• Permanent methods – tubal ligation and vasectomy, once confirmed, also fall in this range.

These methods shine because they take user error almost out of the picture. Once placed, they keep working without daily action, so the gap between perfect and typical use is small.

Methods With Mid-Range Pregnancy Rates

• Hormonal shots – around 4 pregnancies per 100 users per year.
• Pills, patches, and rings – around 7 pregnancies per 100 users per year.

Here, the drug or device itself works quite well when used on schedule. The main challenge lies in human habits: missed pills, late refills, or long gaps between shots. Anyone choosing these methods can boost effectiveness by pairing them with reminders, alarms, or daily routines tied to other habits such as brushing teeth.

Methods With Higher Pregnancy Rates

• Condoms – external condoms around 13 pregnancies per 100 users per year, internal condoms higher.
• Diaphragms, caps, sponges – often in the mid-teens to low-20s range.
• Fertility awareness and withdrawal – broad range, often reaching 15–20 or more with typical use.

These methods can still fit well for some people, especially when combined (for instance, condoms plus spermicide or fertility tracking plus condoms on fertile days). They also suit those who want to avoid hormones, who only have sex on certain days, or who prefer methods used only during sex.

TABLE #2: LATE IN ARTICLE

Which Methods Fit Different Needs?

The chart below pulls together both effectiveness and lifestyle fit to give a quick snapshot across method types.

Method Group	Typical Effectiveness Level	Best Fit Snapshot
IUDs And Implants	Highest (about 0–1 pregnancies per 100 users)	Great for people who want “set it and forget it” birth control.
Permanent Methods	Highest, long term	Suited to those who feel sure they’re done with pregnancy.
Hormonal Shots	High (around 4 pregnancies per 100 users)	Helpful for people who can return for regular injections.
Pills, Patches, Rings	Moderate-to-high (around 7 pregnancies per 100 users)	Work well for people who like having a regular routine.
Condoms	Moderate	Useful for pregnancy prevention plus infection protection.
Diaphragms, Caps, Sponges	Moderate-to-lower	Appeal to those who want non-hormonal, on-demand methods.
Fertility Awareness, Withdrawal	Lower with typical use	Better suited to couples with steady cycles and strong motivation.

How To Choose A Birth Control Method That Fits Your Life

The numbers around effectiveness of different types of birth control are only one part of the story. A method that looks perfect on a chart can still feel like a bad match if it clashes with your health history, schedule, or feelings about hormones and procedures.

Here are questions that often help people sort through options:

• How often do I want to think about birth control? Daily, monthly, or hardly at all?
• Do I hope to become pregnant later on? If so, how soon?
• How do I feel about hormones? Some people like how they ease cramps or acne; others prefer non-hormonal options.
• Do I also need protection from sexually transmitted infections? Condoms are the main method that helps with both pregnancy and infection risk.
• What can I access where I live? Insurance coverage, clinic distance, and local rules all matter.

Bringing these questions into a visit with a clinician can turn a short appointment into a method-matching session tailored to your body and your plans for the years ahead.

Questions To Raise With Your Healthcare Professional

A one-on-one visit with a doctor, nurse practitioner, or midwife adds personal medical context that charts cannot. The list below gives a starting point you can print or save on your phone.

• “Based on my health history, which methods would you put at the top of the list?”
• “Are there methods I should avoid because of migraines, blood pressure, or other conditions I have?”
• “If I choose an IUD or implant, what does the placement visit look like, and how would removal work later on?”
• “If I go with pills, patches, rings, or shots, how can I keep from missing doses?”
• “Can we talk about ways to combine condoms with another method to lower both pregnancy and infection risk?”
• “What side effects should I watch for, and when should I call the clinic?”

Good birth control care is not just about handing over a prescription or placing a device. It also means clear instructions, space for questions, and follow-up if something doesn’t feel right. If you feel rushed or unheard, you can look for another clinician who takes the time to walk through options with you.

Putting The Effectiveness Numbers In Perspective

No reversible method reaches a true 0% pregnancy rate, and even permanent methods carry a small chance of failure. Still, the gap between different methods is large enough to shape real-world outcomes. Moving from condoms alone to an IUD or implant, for instance, shifts expectations from double-digit pregnancy rates down to roughly 1 or fewer per 100 users per year.

Choosing birth control is personal. Charts can help you compare the effectiveness of different types of birth control, but they don’t capture your values around hormones, procedures, periods, and pregnancy. The best match is the one that lines up with the data and feels workable in your daily life, backed by honest, ongoing conversation with a trusted healthcare professional.