Contraception - Effectiveness of Methods

Contraception Effectiveness of Methods The effectiveness of contraception is measured in two ways:'perfect use' which tells you how effective the method is when used correctly every time it is used, and'typical use, which tells you how effective the method is the way most people will use it; for instance, missing pills, having the condom slip off. The 'typical use' rate is the most useful measure for most people. Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) methods are most effective because they don't rely on the user to get things right; they just work. When having regular sex with NO contraception, on average 85/100 women will become pregnant in a year Non-LARC Methods Condoms Condoms are commonly known to be 98% effective at preventing pregnancy, but with typical use they are only about 85% effective, meaning that 15 women in 100 who rely on condoms as their sole form of contraception are likely to become pregnant in a year. They do help prevent sexually transmitted infections though so you should still use them together with another method to reduce your chances of getting an infection. Female condoms are less effective, with 21 women in 100 likely to become pregnant in a year. 15% Pills Failure rate: There are many kinds of pills, but all of them have the same problem: you have to remember to take it, every day. If you are sick or have bad diaorrhoea it may not work. They can also be affected by medication for serious illnesses such as So after 3 years of use, about 0.3% 24% Perfect use 8.0% TB, HIV and epilepsy. of pill users are likely to get Typical use pregnant The contraceptive patch has the same failure rate as pills LARC Methods Implant Failure rate: 0.05% | The implant is a tiny rod that gets implanted under the skin in the upper arm. You can keep it in for three years and you don't have to think about it again once it's there, you just have to remember to get it changed on time. Perfect use & typical use Injection Failure rate: The contraceptive injection lasts for 12 weeks (about three months) and goes into the muscle just at the top outer side of your bum. You need to ensure you get the injection at the right time to make sure it stays effective. Not doing this means that the typical use results in 3 women in 100 women per year getting pregnant. 0.3% Perfect use 3% Typical use Intrauterine System (IUS) Failure rate: 0.1% The IUS is a small plastic T-shaped object that is placed inside the uterus (womb). It contains hormone and lasts for 5 years. Most women can have an IUS, even if they haven't had a baby. Perfect use & typical use Intrauterine Device (IUD/Coil) Failure rate: The IUD is a small plastic T-shaped object wrapped around with a thin copper wire that is placed inside the uterus (womb). It is the only 0.6% LARC that does not contain hormones. Perfect use Depending on the kind of copper coil you have, they can last for up to 10 years. Most women can have an IUD, even if they haven't had a baby. 0.8% Typical use Chance of pregnancy over 1 year |85% 15% 8% 3% |0.8%| |0.1%| Jo.05%| No Contraception Condoms Pills/ Patches Injection IUD IUS Implant Only (coil) Compiled & designed by: Nicola Fern / @maddiezahatter Data source: NHS Clinical Knowledge Summary (http://www.cks.nhs.uk/contraception/background_information/effectiveness_of_contraceptives)