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Women's HealthContraceptionHow to choose the right contraception
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How to choose the right contraception

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Make the right choice of contraception for you.
Dr Sarah Brewer explains each method

Family planning is an essential part of reproductive health, letting you choose whether to have children, how many to have, and when to have them. The right contraception will help you enjoy your relationship to the full, without the worry of an unplanned pregnancy.

Choose a method:

For most women, conception is possible from their early teens to their mid-40s, and a sexually active woman who doesn't use any method of contraception has an 85% chance of becoming pregnant within one year. Surveys suggest, however, that less than 50% of sexually active women regularly use a reversible method of contraception, while those most keen to avoid pregnancy - teenagers and women over 40 - are least likely to use any form of contraception at all. As a result, around one in three pregnancies are unplanned.

Failure rates of various methods per year

The following table shows typical effectiveness rates for various methods of contraception (allowing for some human error), to help you decide which method is right for you, based on their reliability:

Method   Typical failure rate
No contraception   85%
Withdrawal   19%
Natural fertility awareness methods   Up to 23%
Fertility awareness computer (Persona)   6% or more
Diaphragm/cap   Up to 18%
Spermicides alone   25%
Male condom   Up to 15%
Female condom   Up to 15%
Coil (IUCD)   1% to 2%
Progestogen coil (intra-uterine system)   < 1%
Combined pill   < 1 - 3% or more
Mini pill   < 1 - 4% or more
Depot progestogen injection   < 1%
Female sterilisation   < 1%
Male sterilisation   < 1%
Emergency contraceptive pill   Up to 4%
Emergency contraceptive IUCD   Up to 2%



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Created: 13/10/2003  Updated: 06/08/2007

This iVillage Health service area is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned about your health or that of a child, please consult your family's health provider immediately and do not wait for a response from our professionals. For the full Disclaimer, click here.
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