Success & Failure Rates of Contraceptives:
A Guide for Teens

 

This chart shows the percentages of women who accidently get pregnant while using contraception over the course of one year.

 

Key:
1 Woman Becomes Pregnant:
100 Women Become Pregnant:
Typical Use:	When contraception is not used every time, or it is not used according to instructions every time.
Perfect Use:	When contraception is used every time, and it is used according to instructions every time.
Male Condoms
Out of 100 Women Using Male Condoms:
Typical Use: 14 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 3 Women Become Pregnant
Withdrawal
Out of 100 Women Using Withdrawal:
Typical Use: 19 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 4 Women Become Pregnant
Birth Control Pills - Combination
Out of 100 Women Using Combination Birth Control Pills
Typical Use: 5 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use:1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Birth Control Pills - Progestin-Only
Out of 100 Women Using Progestin-Only Birth Control Pills
Typical Use: 5 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 3 Women Become Pregnant
Hormonal Injections - Depo Provera
Out of 100 Women Using Hormonal Injections:
Typical Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Estrogen/Progestin Hormonal Injections (not currently available in the US)
Out of 100 Women Using Estrogen/Progestin Injections:
Typical Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Hormonal Implants
Out of 100 Women Using Hormonal Implants
Typical Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Hormone Patch - Ortho-Evra
Out of 100 Women Using the Hormone Patch:
Typical Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Vaginal Hormonal Ring - NuvaRing
Out of 100 Women Using the Vaginal Hormonal Ring:
Typical Use: Not yet known	**
Perfect Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Spermicides
Out of 100 Women Using Spermicides:
Typical Use: 26 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 6 Women Become Pregnant
Contraceptive Sponges
Out of 100 Women Using Contraceptive Sponges
Typical Use: 13 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 9 Women Become Pregnant
Diaphragm
Out of 100 Women Using a Diaphragm
Typical Use: 20 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 6 Women Become Pregnant
Cervical Cap
Out of 100 Women Using a Cervical Cap
Typical Use: 18 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 6 Women Become Pregnant
Female Condoms
Out of 100 Women Using Female Condoms
Typical Use: 21 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 5 Women Become Pregnant
Copper IUD (Intrauterine Device)
Out of 100 Women Using a Copper IUD:
Typical Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
IUD (Intrauterine Device)
Out of 100 Women Using an IUD:
Typical Use: 3 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 3 Women Become Pregnant
Lactational Amenorrhea Method
Out of 100 Women Using the LAM Method:
Typical Use: 2 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 2 Women Become Pregnant
Natural Family Planning
Out of 100 Women Using Natural Family Planning
Typical Use: 24 Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 2 to 9 (average 6) Women Become Pregnant
Female Sterilization
Out of 100 Women Using Female Sterilization
Typical Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
Perfect Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant
No Contraceptive Method
Out of 100 Women Using No Contraceptive Method
Typical Use: 85 Women Become Pregnant

 

 

Written by the Center for Young Women's Health Staff

 

Updated 5/12/2005

 

Related Information:

• Contraception/Birth Control
• Related Links

 

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