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
eggs from the use endometrial and
(COCs) or “the (estrogen and
ovaries 92% as ovarian cancer
pill” progestogen)
(ovulation) commonly used
Thickens 99% with correct
cervical and consistent
Progestogen- Contains only mucous to use Can be used while
only pills progestogen block sperm breastfeeding; must
(POPs) or "the hormone, not and egg from be taken at the
90–97% as
minipill" estrogen meeting and same time each day
commonly used
prevents
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
commonly used bleeding common,
product prevents
but not harmful
ovulation
Monthly >99% with correct
Prevents the and consistent
injectables or Injected monthly
release of use Irregular vaginal
combined into the muscle,
eggs from the bleeding common,
injectable contains estrogen
ovaries but not harmful
contraceptives and progestogen 97% as
(ovulation)
(CIC) commonly used
Combined Continuously Prevents the The patch and the The Patch and the
contraceptive releases 2 release of CVR are new and CVR provide a
 Effectiveness to
Method Description How it works prevent Comments
pregnancy

patch and hormones – a eggs from the research on comparable safety

combined progestin and an 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 that similar hormone
the ring. it may be more formulations.
Copper Longer and heavier
Small flexible
component periods during first
Intrauterine plastic device
damages months of use are
device (IUD): containing copper
sperm and >99% common but not
copper sleeves or wire
prevents it harmful; can also be
containing that is inserted
from meeting used as emergency
into the 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
commonly used HIV
meeting
Sheaths, or 90% with correct
Forms a
linings, that fit and consistent Also protects
barrier to
loosely inside a use against sexually
Female prevent
woman's vagina, transmitted
condoms sperm and
made of thin, 79% as infections, including
egg from
transparent, soft commonly used HIV
meeting
plastic film
Male Permanent Keeps sperm >99% after 3 3 months delay in
sterilization contraception to out of months semen taking effect while
 Effectiveness to
Method Description How it works prevent Comments
pregnancy
evaluation

97–98% with no
(vasectomy) block or cut the ejaculated stored sperm is still
semen evaluation
vas deferens semen present; does not
tubes that carry affect male sexual
sperm from the performance;

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
Prevents the
bleeding has not planning method
Lactational release of
returned; requires based on the
amenorrhea eggs from the
exclusive or full natural effect of
method (LAM) ovaries 98% as
breastfeeding breastfeeding on
(ovulation) commonly used
day and night of fertility
an infant less
than 6 months
old
Emergency
If all 100 women
contraception Pills taken to
used progestin-
pills (ulipristal prevent Does not disrupt an
Delays only emergency
acetate 30 mg pregnancy up to already existing
ovulation contraception,
or 5 days after pregnancy
one would likely
levonorgestrel unprotected sex
become pregnant.
1.5 mg)
Standard Days Women track Prevents 95% with Can be used to
Method or SDM their fertile pregnancy by consistent and identify fertile days
periods (usually avoiding correct use. by both women who
days 8 to 19 of unprotected want to become
each 26 to 32 vaginal sex pregnant and
day cycle) using during most women who want to
cycle beads or fertile days. avoid pregnancy.
other aids Correct, consistent
 Effectiveness to
Method Description How it works prevent Comments
pregnancy
use requires partner
cooperation.
88% with
common use
(Arevalo et al
2002)

99% effective with If the BBT has risen

Woman takes her
correct and and has stayed
body temperature Prevents
consistent use. higher for 3 full
at the same time pregnancy by
Basal Body each morning avoiding 75% with typical days, ovulation has
occurred and the
Temperature before getting out unprotected use of FABM
fertile period has
(BBT) Method of bed observing vaginal sex (Trussell, 2009)
passed. Sex can
for an increase of during fertile
resume on the 4th
0.2 to 0.5 days
day until her next
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 by another condition
periods by
avoiding that changes
TwoDay observing
unprotected cervical mucus.
Method presence of 86% with typical
vaginal sex Unprotected coitus
cervical mucus (if or common use.
during most may be resumed
any type color or (Arevalo, 2004)
fertile days, 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
Prevents
observing Reported 98% used with caution
pregnancy by
changes in the with typical use after an abortion,
avoiding
Sympto-thermal cervical mucus around menarche or
unprotected (Manhart et al,
Method (clear texture) , menopause, and in
vaginal sex 2013)
body temperature conditions which
during most
(slight increase) may increase body
fertile
and consistency temperature.
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 use
partner's vagina, because proper timing
Withdrawal sperm out of the
and ejaculates 73% as of withdrawal is often
(coitus woman's body,
outside the vagina, commonly difficult to determine,
interruptus) preventing
keeping semen used leading to the risk of
fertilization
away from her (Trussell, ejaculating while inside
external genitalia 2009) the vagina.

WHO response