Birth Control Failure Rates

Types	Description	Failure Rate	Risks & Side Effects
Abstinence	No sexual intercourse or any type of contact between sexual organs	0%	No Side Effects
Cervical Cap	A soft rubber barrier that covers the cervix to block the passage of sperm	20% (40% after childbirth)	No Side Effects (unless allergic)
Condom – Female	A sheath, often made of latex rubber, inserted into the vaginal to block the passage of sperm	21%	No Side Effects (unless allergic)
Condom – Male	A sheath, often made of latex rubber, covers the erect penis to block the passage of sperm	14%	No Side Effects (unless allergic)
Depo-Provera Injection	A shot of Progestin taken every 3 months to prevent ovulation.	0.3%	Irregular or missed menstrual cycle, weight gain, breast tenderness
Diaphragm	A soft rubber dome that covers the cervix to block the passage of sperm.	20%	No Side Effects (unless allergic)
Fertility Awareness	The use of menstrual cycle to predict ovulation avoiding intercourse during expected fertile dates	25%	No Side Effects
Intrauterine Device (IUD) – Copper	A device inserted into a woman’s uterus (by a doctor) to block sperm and change the uterus lining to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg	0.8%	Ectopic pregnancies, increased bleeding during menstrual cycle, severe menstruation cramps, perforation of the uterus, Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Intrauterine Device (IUD) – Progesterone	same as above	2%	same as above
Lunelle Injection	Injection of Progestin and Estrogen given every month to prevent ovulation, change cervical mucus to block sperm, and change the lining or the uterus to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg	0.1 – 1%	Similar to oral contraceptives
Nothing/Chance	No birth control method	85%	No Side Effects
Oral Contraceptive (estrogen/progestin)	Pills taken daily by women to suppress ovulation and change the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg	5%	Nausea, Headaches, Weight gain, Depression, Irregular Bleeding *Women who smoke are advised not to take oral contraceptives
Oral Contraceptivo(progestin only)	Pills taken daily by women to change cervical mucus to block sperm and changes the uterus lining to prevent implantation of a fertilized egg	5%	Breast tenderness, Weight gain, Menstrual cycle changes *Women who smoke are advised not to take oral contraceptives
Ortho-Evra Patch	A patch containing synthetic hormones attached to the skin, works same as oral contraceptives	0.1 – 1%	Similar to oral contraceptives
Spermicide (only)	A jelly, foam, or cream containing chemicals supposed to kill sperm	26%	No Side Effects (unless allergic)
Sponge	A soft saucer-shaped polyurethane sponge that blocks the cervix and absorbs semen	20% (40% after childbirth)	No Side Effects (unless allergic)
Sterilization – Female	Permanent surgical procedure to prevent pregnancy – fallopian tube is blocked to prevent passage of eggs and sperm	0.5%	If a woman conceives after sterilization procedure there is a risk of ectopic pregnancies.
Sterilization – Male	Permanent surgical procedure to prevent pregnancy – vas deferens tube is damaged to prevent fabrication of sperm	0.2%	No Side Effects
Withdrawal	Withdrawal of the penis before ejaculation	19%	No Side Effects