Contraceptive methods

Modern methods

Effectiveness to
Method Description How it works prevent Comments
pregnancy
Prevents the >99% with correct
Combined oral Contains two and consistent
release of Reduces risk of
contraceptives hormones use
eggs from endometrial and
(COCs) or “the (estrogen and
the ovaries 92% as ovarian cancer
pill” progestogen)
(ovulation) commonly used
Thickens 99% with correct
cervical and consistent
Can be used while
Progestogen- Contains only mucous to use
breastfeeding; must
only pills progestogen block sperm
be taken at the
(POPs) or "the hormone, not and egg from
90–97% as same time each
minipill" estrogen meeting and
prevents commonly used day
ovulation
Health-care
Thickens
Small, flexible provider must insert
cervical
rods or capsules and remove; can be
mucous to
placed under the used for 3–5 years
block sperm
Implants skin of the upper >99% depending on
and egg from
arm; contains implant; irregular
meeting and
progestogen vaginal bleeding
prevents
hormone only common but not
ovulation
harmful
Thickens >99% with correct
Delayed return to
Injected into the cervical and consistent
fertility (about 1–4
muscle or under mucous to use
months on the
Progestogen the skin every 2 block sperm
average) after use;
only injectables or 3 months, and egg from
97% as irregular vaginal
depending on meeting and
product prevents commonly used bleeding common,
but not harmful
ovulation
Monthly >99% with correct
Injected monthly Prevents the
injectables or and consistent
into the muscle, release of Irregular vaginal
combined use
contains eggs from bleeding common,
injectable
estrogen and the ovaries 97% as but not harmful
contraceptives
progestogen (ovulation) commonly used
(CIC)
Combined Continuously Prevents the The patch and The Patch and the
 Effectiveness to
Method Description How it works prevent Comments
pregnancy
contraceptive releases 2 release of the CVR are new CVR provide a
patch and hormones – a eggs from and research on comparable safety
combined progestin and an the ovaries effectiveness is and
contraceptive estrogen- directly (ovulation) limited. pharmacokinetic
vaginal ring through the skin Effectiveness profile to COCs with
(CVR) (patch) or from studies report similar hormone
the ring. that it may be formulations.
more effective
than the COCs,
both as
commonly and
consistent or
correct use.
Longer and heavier
Small flexible Copper
periods during first
plastic device component
Intrauterine months of use are
containing damages
device (IUD): common but not
copper sleeves sperm and >99%
copper harmful; can also
or wire that is prevents it
containing be used as
inserted into the from meeting
emergency
uterus the egg
contraception
Decreases amount
A T-shaped of blood lost with
plastic device Thickens menstruation over
inserted into the cervical time; Reduces
Intrauterine
uterus that mucous to menstrual cramps
device (IUD) >99%
steadily releases block sperm and symptoms of
levonorgestrel
small amounts of and egg from endometriosis;
levonorgestrel meeting amenorrhea (no
each day menstrual bleeding)
in a group of users
Forms a 98% with correct
Also protects
Sheaths or barrier to and consistent
against sexually
coverings that fit prevent use
Male condoms transmitted
over a man's sperm and
85% as infections, including
erect penis egg from
meeting commonly used HIV
Sheaths, or Forms a 90% with correct Also protects
linings, that fit barrier to and consistent against sexually
Female use
loosely inside a prevent transmitted
condoms
woman's vagina, sperm and 79% as infections, including
made of thin, egg from commonly used HIV
 Effectiveness to
Method Description How it works prevent Comments
pregnancy
transparent, soft meeting
plastic film
>99% after 3 3 months delay in
Permanent months semen taking effect while
contraception to evaluation stored sperm is still
Keeps sperm
Male block or cut the present; does not
out of
sterilization vas deferens affect male sexual
ejaculated
(vasectomy) tubes that carry 97–98% with no performance;
semen
sperm from the semen evaluation voluntary and
testicles informed choice is
essential
Permanent Eggs are
Female Voluntary and
contraception to blocked from
sterilization >99% informed choice is
block or cut the meeting
(tubal ligation) essential
fallopian tubes sperm
Temporary 99% with correct
contraception for and consistent
new mothers use
whose monthly
A temporary family
bleeding has not Prevents the
planning method
Lactational returned; release of
based on the
amenorrhea requires eggs from
natural effect of
method (LAM) exclusive or full the ovaries 98% as
breastfeeding on
breastfeeding (ovulation) commonly used fertility
day and night of
an infant less
than 6 months
old
Emergency If all 100 women
contraception Pills taken to used progestin-
pills (ulipristal prevent only emergency Does not disrupt an
Delays
acetate 30 mg pregnancy up to contraception, already existing
ovulation
or 5 days after one would likely pregnancy
levonorgestrel unprotected sex become
1.5 mg) pregnant.
Women track Prevents Can be used to
their fertile pregnancy identify fertile days
periods (usually by avoiding 95% with by both women
Standard Days
days 8 to 19 of unprotected consistent and who want to
Method or SDM
each 26 to 32 vaginal sex correct use. become pregnant
day cycle) using during most and women who
cycle beads or fertile days. want to avoid
 Effectiveness to
Method Description How it works prevent Comments
pregnancy
other aids pregnancy. Correct,
consistent use
requires partner
cooperation.
88% with
common use
(Arevalo et al
2002)
Woman takes 99% effective If the BBT has risen
her body with correct and
and has stayed
Prevents
temperature at consistent use.higher for 3 full
pregnancy
the same time days, ovulation has
Basal Body by avoiding 75% with typical
each morning occurred and the
Temperature unprotected use of FABM
before getting fertile period has
(BBT) Method vaginal sex (Trussell, 2009)
out of bed passed. Sex can
during fertile
observing for an resume on the 4th
days
increase of 0.2 to day until her next
0.5 degrees C. monthly bleeding.
96% with correct Difficult to use if a
and consistent woman has a
Women track
Prevents use. vaginal infection or
their fertile
pregnancy another condition
periods by
by avoiding that changes
TwoDay observing
unprotected cervical mucus.
Method presence of 86% with typical
vaginal sex Unprotected coitus
cervical mucus (if
during most or common use. may be resumed
any type color or
fertile days, (Arevalo, 2004) after 2 consecutive
consistency)
dry days (or without
secretions)
Women track 98% with correct
their fertile and consistent
periods by use.
May have to be
observing Prevents Reported 98% used with caution
changes in the pregnancy with typical use after an abortion,
cervical mucus by avoiding (Manhart et al,
Sympto-thermal around menarche
(clear texture) , unprotected 2013)
Method or menopause, and
body vaginal sex
in conditions which
temperature during most
may increase body
(slight increase) fertile
temperature.
and consistency
of the cervix
(softening).
 Effectiveness to
Method Description How it works prevent Comments
pregnancy

Traditional methods

Traditional
Methods
Women monitor 91% with
The couple
their pattern of correct and
prevents May need to delay or
menstrual cycle consistent
pregnancy by use with caution when
over 6 months, use.
avoiding using drugs (such as
Calendar subtracts 18 from
unprotected anxiolytics,
method or shortest cycle
vaginal sex during antidepressants,
rhythm length (estimated
the 1st and last 75% with NSAIDS, or certain
method 1st fertile day) and
estimated fertile common antibiotics) which may
subtracts 11 from
days, by use affect timing of
longest cycle
abstaining or ovulation.
length (estimated
using a condom.
last fertile day)
96% with
Man withdraws his correct and One of the least
penis from his consistent effective methods,
Tries to keep
partner's vagina, use because proper timing
Withdrawal sperm out of the
and ejaculates of withdrawal is often
(coitus woman's body, 73% as
outside the vagina, difficult to determine,
interruptus) preventing commonly
keeping semen leading to the risk of
fertilization used
away from her ejaculating while inside
(Trussell,
external genitalia the vagina.
2009)