www.fda.

gov/birthcontrol
BIRTH CONTROL GUIDE
If you do not want to get pregnant, there are many birth control options to choose from. No one product is best for everyone. Some methods are more effective than others at
preventing pregnancy. Check the pregnancy rates on this chart to get an idea of how effective the product is at preventing pregnancy. The pregnancy rates tell you the number of
pregnancies expected per 100 women during the first year of typical use. Typical use shows how effective the different methods are during actual use (including sometimes using
a method in a way that is not correct or not consistent). The only sure way to avoid pregnancy is not to have any sexual contact. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best
method for you.
FDA
FDA-Approved Number of Use Some Risks or
Methods pregnancies expected Side Effects**
(per 100 Women)** This chart does not list all of the risks and side effects for each product.

S te riliza tio n S u rg e ry Le ss th a n 1 O n e tim e p ro ce d u re . Pain

fo r W o m e n P e rm a n e n t. B le e d in g
In fe ctio n o r o th e r c o m p lica tio n s a fte r s u rg e ry

S te riliza tio n Le ss th a n 1 O n e tim e p ro ce d u re . Pain / cra m p in g

Im p la n t fo r W o m e n P e rm a n e n t. P elvic o r b a ck d isc o m fo rt
V agin al b le e d in g
Most Effective

S te riliza tio n S u rg e ry Le ss th a n 1 O n e tim e p ro ce d u re . Pain

fo r M en P e rm a n e n t. B le e d in g
In fectio n
IU D C o p p e r Le ss th a n 1 In se rte d by a h e a lth c a re p ro vid e r. C ra m p s
Lasts up to 1 0 ye a rs. H eavier, lo n g e r p e rio d s
S p o ttin g b e tw e e n p e rio d s
IU D w ith P ro ge stin Le ss th a n 1 In se rte d by a h e a lth c a re pro vid er. Irre g u la r b le e d in g
Lasts up to 3 -5 ye a rs, d e p e n d in g on N o p e rio d s (a m e n o rrh e a )
th e typ e. A b d o m in a l/p e lv ic pain
Im p la n ta b le Rod Le ss th a n 1 In se rte d by a h e a lth c a re p ro vid er, M e n stru a l C h a n g e s M o o d s w in g s o r d e p re s s e d m o od
Lastsupto3years. s. W e ig h t g a in H e a d a ch e
A cn e
S h o t / In je ctio n 6 N ee d a s h o t e v e ry 3 m o n th s. Lo ss o f b o n e d e n sity
Irre g u la r b le e d in g / B le e d in g b e tw e e n p e rio d s
H e a d a ch e s W e ig h t gain
N e rv o u sn e ss D izzin e ss
A b d o m in a l d is c o m fo rt
O ral C o n tra c e p tiv e s 9 M u st s w a llo w a pill e v e ry day. S p o ttin g / b le e d in g b e tw e e n p e rio d s
N au se a
"Th e Pill"
B re a st te n d e rn e s s
(C o m b in e d Pill)
H e a d a ch e
O ral C o n tra c e p tiv e s 9 M u st s w a llo w a pill e v e ry day. S p o ttin g / b le e d in g b e tw e e n p e rio d s
(
"The Pill" (Extended/ N au se a
Continuous Use B re a st te n d e rn e s s
C o m b in e d Pill) H e a d a ch e
O ral C o n tra c e p tiv e s 9 M u st s w a llo w a pill at th e sa m e tim e S p o ttin g / b le e d in g b e tw e e n p e rio d s
e v e ry day. N au se a
"T h e M ini Pill"
B re a st te n d e rn e s s
((P ro g e stin O n ly ))
H e a d a ch e
P atch 9 Put on a n e w p a tch e a ch w e e k fo r 3 S p o ttin g o r b le e d in g b e tw e e n m e n stru a l p e rio d s
w e e k s (2 1 to ta l d a ys). N a u se a S to m a ch pain
D o n 't p u t o n a p a tch d u rin g th e B re a st te n d e rn e s s H e a d a ch e
fo u rth w ee k. Skin irritatio n
V a g in a l C o n tra c e p tiv e 9 Put th e rin g into th e v a g in a yo u rse lf. V a g in a l d is c h a rg e , d is c o m fo rt in th e v a g in a , an d m ild irritatio n .
R in g K e ep th e rin g in y o u r v a g in a fo r 3 H e a d a ch e M ood changes
w e e k s and th e n ta k e it o u t fo r o ne N a u se a B re a st te n d e rn e s s
w ee k.
D ia p h ra g m w ith 12 M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex. Irritatio n
S p e rm ic id e A lle rg ic re a c tio n s
U rin a ry tra c t in fe ctio n
S p o n g e w ith 1 2 -2 4 M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex. Irritatio n
S p e rm ic id e
C e rv ica l C a p w ith 1 7 -2 3 M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex. Irritatio n
S p e rm ic id e A lle rg ic re a c tio n s
A b n o rm a l Pap te st
Least Effective

M ale C o n d o m 18 M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex. Irrita tio n

P ro v id e s p ro te ctio n a g a in st so m e Allergic reactions s
STD s.
Fe m a le C o n d o m 21 M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex. D isc o m fo rt o r pain d u rin g in se rtio n o r sex.
P ro v id e s p ro te ctio n a g a in st so m e B u rn in g se n sa tio n , rash o r itch in g
STD s.
Spermicide alone 28 M u st use e v e ry tim e y o u h a ve sex. Irrita tio n
A lle rg ic re a c tio n s
U rin a ry tra c t in fe ctio n

OTHER CONTRACEPTION
Emergency Contraceptives (EC):
M a y be u se d if yo u did n ot u se b irth co n tro l o r if y o u r re g u la r b irth co n tro l fa ils (su ch as a c o n d o m b re a k s). It sh o u ld n o t be u se d a s a re g u la r
fo rm o f b irth c o n tro l. E m e rg e n c y c o n tra c e p tio n p re v e n ts a b o u t 5 5 - 8 5 % o f p re d icte d p re g n a n cie s.
Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg (1 pill) 7 out of every 8 women who a as
Swallow the pills as soon Menstrual changes
Le v o n o rg e stre l .75 m g (2 pills) w o u ld h a ve g o tte n p re g n a n t w ill possible within 3 days after Headache N au se a
n o t b e c o m e p re g n a n t a fte r ta k in g having unprotected sex. D izzin e ss V o m itin g
this EC. . B re a st pain T ire d n e s s
Lo w e r sto m a ch (a b d o m in a l) pain
U lip ristal A c e ta te 6 o r 7 o u t o f e v e ry 10 w o m e n w h o S w a llo w th e pills w ith in 5 H e a d a ch e N au se a
w o u ld h a ve g o tte n p re g n a n t w ill d a y s a fte r h a v in g u n p ro te cte d A b d o m in a l pa in M e n stru a l pain
n o t b e c o m e p re g n a n t a fte r ta k in g sex. T ire d n e s s D izzin e ss
this EC. .

*For more information on the chance of getting pregnant while using a method or on the risks of a specific product, please check the product label or Trussell, J. (2011). "Contraceptive failure in the
United States.“ Contraception 83(5):397-404.