Pregnancy & Baby Index: Fertility and Conception: Birth Control: Birth control methods chart
Birth control methods chart
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Learn more about your birth control options.
Surgical sterilization -- female or male (tubal ligation/vasectomy)
Estimated effectiveness: Over 99 percent
Some risks (c): Pain, bleeding, infection, other minor postsurgical complications
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): None
Convenience: One-time surgical procedure
Availability: Surgery
Injection (Depo-Provera)
Estimated effectiveness: Over 99 percent
Some risks (c): Irregular bleeding, weight gain, breast tenderness, headaches
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): None
Convenience: One injection every three months
Availability: Prescription
Implant (Norplant)
Estimated effectiveness: Over 99 percent
Some risks (c): Irregular bleeding, weight gain, breast tenderness, headaches, difficulty in removal
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): None
Convenience: Implanted by health-care provider -- minor outpatient surgical procedure; effective for up to five years.
Availability: Prescription
IUD (Intrauterine device)
Estimated effectiveness: 98 to 99 percent
Some risks (c): Cramps, bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, perforation of uterus
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): None
Convenience: After insertion by physician, can remain in place for up to one or 10 years, depending on type.
Availability: Prescription
Oral contraceptives -- combined pill
Estimated effectiveness: Over 95 percent
Some risks (c): Dizziness; nausea; changes in menstruation, mood and weight; rare side effects: cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attack and strokes
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): None, except some protection against pelvic inflammatory disease.
Convenience: Must be taken on daily schedule, regardless of frequency of intercourse.
Availability: Prescription
Oral contraceptives -- progestin-only "mini pill"
Estimated effectiveness: 95 percent
Some risks (c): Irregular bleeding, weight gain, breast tenderness, slightly increased chance of ectopic pregnancy ·
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): None, except some protection against pelvic inflammatory disease.
Convenience: Must be taken on daily schedule, regardless of frequency of intercourse.
Availability: Prescription
Male latex condom
Estimated effectiveness: 86 percent (a)
Some risks (c): Irritation and allergic reactions (less likely with polyurethane)
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): Except for abstinence, latex condoms are the best protection against STDs, including herpes and AIDS.
Convenience: Applied immediately before intercourse; used only once and discarded.
Availability: Nonprescription
Diaphragm with spermicide
Estimated effectiveness: 80 percent
Some risks (c): Irritation and allergic reactions, urinary tract infection
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): Protects against cervical infection; spermicide may give some protection against chlamydia and gonorrhea; otherwise unknown.
Convenience: Inserted before intercourse and left in place at least six hours after; can be left in place for 24 hours, with additional spermicide for repeated intercourse.
Availability: Prescription
Female condom
Estimated effectiveness: 79 percent
Some risks (c): Irritation and allergic reactions
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): May give some STD protection.
Convenience: Applied immediately before intercourse; used only once and discarded.
Availability: Nonprescription
Spermicides alone
Estimated effectiveness: 74 percent
Some risks (c): Irritation and allergic reactions
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): May give some protection against chlamydia and gonorrhea; otherwise unknown.
Convenience: Instructions vary; usually applied no more than one hour before intercourse and left in place at least six to eight hours after.
Availability: Nonprescription
Periodic abstinence
Estimated effectiveness: About 75 percent (varies, based on method)
Some risks (c): None
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): None
Convenience: Requires frequent monitoring of body functions (for example, body temperature for one method).
Availability: Instructions from health-care provider
Cervical cap with spermicide
Estimated effectiveness: 60 to 80 percent (b)
Some risks (c): Irritation and allergic reactions, abnormal Pap test
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): Spermicide may give some protection against chlamydia and gonorrhea; otherwise unknown.
Convenience: May be difficult to insert; can remain in place for 48 hours without reapplying spermicide for repeated intercourse.
Availability: Prescription
Sponge with spermicide
Estimated effectiveness: 60 to 80 percent (b)
Some risks (d): Irritation and allergic reactions, difficulty in removal
Protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): Spermicide may give some protection against chlamydia and gonorrhea; otherwise unknown.
Convenience: Inserted before intercourse and protects for 24 hours without additional spermicide; must be left in place for at least six hours after intercourse; must be removed within 30 hours of insertion; used only once and discarded.
Availability: Nonprescription
Notes:
(a) Effectiveness rate for polyurethane condoms has not been established.
(b) Less effective for women who have had a baby because the birth process stretches the vagina and cervix, making it more difficult to achieve a proper fit.
(c) Serious medical risks from contraceptives are rare.
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About this information: Information provided by the US Food and Drug Administration. This chart is a summary; it is not intended to be used alone. All product labeling should be followed carefully, and a health-care professional should be consulted for some methods.
