Comparing effectiveness of birth control methods
More effective
Less than 1 pregnancy per 100
women each year
How to make your birth control method most effective
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Vasectomy: Use another method for first 3 months.
Female sterilization, IUD, implant: Little or nothing to do.
1 per 100
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LAM (for 6 months): Breastfeed often, day and night.
Shot: Get repeat shots on time.
Pill: Take a pill each day.
Ring, Patch: Keep in place, change on time.
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Diaphragm, male condom, female condom, withdrawal, cervical cap, sponge: Use correctly everytime you have sex. Cervical cap and sponge are less effective for women who have given birth.
Spermicide: Use correctly everytime you have sex.
Fertility-awareness based methods: Abstain or use condoms on fertile days. Standard Days Method and Two Day Method may be easiest to use.
Less effective
About 25 pregnancies per 100
women each year
Source: Adapted from WHO, 2007