Which Birth Control Is Right for You? Methods Compared

Watercolor illustration of various birth control methods, including contraceptive pills, an IUD, a condom, a patch, a vaginal ring, and an implant.

There are many ways to prevent pregnancy, and no single method is best for everyone. Some work for years without any daily effort. Others need to be used every day or every time you have sex.

This guide explains the main types of birth control, how well each one works, and what to think about when you choose. It is general information, so talk to a doctor, nurse, or midwife about what suits your health and your life.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While the content is written with input from a licensed healthcare professional, reading this article does not create a nurse-patient, provider-patient, or any other professional relationship between you and the author or Vida Atlas.

The information here is general in nature and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice from your own doctor or qualified healthcare provider, who can take your full medical history and individual circumstances into account. Always consult your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read on this site.

If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Do not rely on this article for urgent or emergency medical situations.

Vida Atlas and the author make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided, and disclaim liability for any actions taken or not taken based on the content of this article.

Quick Answer

According to the CDC, the main types are long-acting methods such as IUDs and the implant, hormonal methods such as the pill, patch, ring, and injection, barrier methods such as condoms, and permanent methods such as sterilization (1). The implant and IUDs are the most effective reversible methods, and condoms are the main option that also lowers the risk of sexually transmitted infections (1).

How Well Each Method Works

Effectiveness is usually described by how many women out of 100 become pregnant in one year. Typical use means real life, including missed pills or condoms that are not used every time. These are the CDC figures for typical use (1):

Implant: about 0.1 in 100 women.
Hormonal IUD: about 0.1 to 0.4 in 100.
Copper IUD: about 0.8 in 100.
Injection, given every three months: about 4 in 100.
Pill, patch, or vaginal ring: about 7 in 100.
Male condom: about 13 in 100.
Diaphragm or sponge: about 17 in 100.
Fertility awareness methods: between 2 and 23 in 100, depending on the method and how it is used.

These numbers show why the best method is often the one you can use correctly every time. A method that works very well on paper can fail if it does not fit your daily life.

Types of Birth Control

Long-Acting Methods: IUDs and the Implant

An IUD is a small device that a doctor or nurse places in the uterus. Copper IUDs contain no hormones, while hormonal IUDs release a small amount of the hormone levonorgestrel. The implant is a small rod placed under the skin of the upper arm.

All three work for years and can be removed when you want to become pregnant. According to the CDC, a copper IUD can stay in for up to 10 years, and a hormonal IUD for 3 to 8 years, depending on the device (1). Because there is nothing to remember day to day, these are among the most effective methods.

Copper IUDs can cause heavier periods and more cramps, mostly in the first year, so they may not be the best fit if your periods are already heavy (3). Hormonal IUDs usually make periods lighter, and some women stop having periods altogether (3). The CDC lists IUDs as an option for women who have never given birth, as well as for women who have (4).

Hormonal Methods: Pill, Patch, Ring, and Injection

These methods use hormones to prevent pregnancy. The combined pill, the progestin-only pill, the patch, and the vaginal ring must be used on a schedule, and the injection is given every three months. Missed doses make them less effective.

Combined methods (the combined pill, patch, and ring) contain two hormones. The CDC lists several conditions where they are not advised or carry more risk (4). This is one of the main reasons to speak to a doctor, nurse, or midwife before you start, so they can check which options are safe for you. Examples include:

Age 35 or older and smoking.
A history of blood clots.
High blood pressure.
Current or past breast cancer.
A body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, which is worth discussing with your doctor.

Barrier Methods

Male and female condoms, the diaphragm, the cervical cap, and the sponge work by keeping sperm from reaching the egg. Condoms are the main birth control method that also lowers the risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

Latex condoms are the most common type, and they help prevent infections (1). If you or your partner is allergic to latex, condoms made of polyurethane or polyisoprene offer similar protection against pregnancy and infections (6). Lambskin condoms help prevent pregnancy but may not protect against infections (1). Condoms work best when used correctly every time.

Permanent Methods

Tubal surgery for women and vasectomy for men are meant to be permanent. They are very effective, with typical failure rates of about 0.5 in 100 for tubal surgery and 0.15 in 100 for vasectomy (1). They are best for people who are sure they do not want a future pregnancy.

Rules about who can have a permanent procedure differ by country, clinic, and type of insurance. In the U.S., for example, Medicaid pays for sterilization only if you are at least 21 years old and wait at least 30 days after signing the consent form (5). These rules give you time to think before a permanent decision. Ask your own doctor what applies where you live.

Fertility Awareness Methods

These methods track signs in your cycle, such as body temperature and cervical mucus, so you can avoid sex or use protection on the days you are most likely to get pregnant. They can work, but results vary a lot, from 2 to 23 pregnancies per 100 women in a year. They take training and steady effort to use well.

The calendar method, also called the rhythm method, uses the dates of your past periods to guess your fertile days. The Office on Women’s Health says it can be hard to know the days you are most fertile, and about 24 in 100 women become pregnant in the first year of typical use (7).

How to Choose

The CDC lists safety, effectiveness, cost and availability, side effects, how much control you have, and how easily a method can be stopped as the main things to weigh (1). These questions can help you think it through:

Do I want a baby soon, later, or not at all?
Do I also want protection from sexually transmitted infections?
Will I remember a daily pill, or would I prefer something I do not have to think about?
Do I have health conditions that affect which methods are safe for me?
How easily do I want to be able to stop the method?

Your needs can change over time, so it is fine to switch methods. A doctor, nurse, or midwife can help you compare the options and explain the side effects of each one.

Protection From Infections

Most methods do not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. If you want to prevent both pregnancy and infection, condoms can be used alone or together with another method. A medicine called PrEP can help protect against HIV, but it is not a form of birth control.

If You Had Unprotected Sex or Your Method Failed

Emergency contraception can lower the chance of pregnancy after unprotected sex or a failed method. It is not meant to be a regular method, and it works best when used as soon as possible (2). Read Emergency Contraception: What It Is and How It Works for your options.

If your period is late after unprotected sex, see Why Is My Period Late? for common reasons and when to take a pregnancy test.

When to Talk to a Doctor

Consider speaking with a healthcare professional if:

You are not sure which method fits your health.
You smoke and are over 35, or you have had blood clots, high blood pressure, or breast cancer.
A method gives you side effects that bother you.
You think you may be pregnant while using birth control.
You want to stop your method because you would like to become pregnant.

Do not stop a prescribed method suddenly without a plan, unless you are trying to become pregnant or a doctor has told you to stop. If you need another method in the meantime, ask what you can use.

Conclusion

There are many safe and effective ways to prevent pregnancy. IUDs and the implant work best, hormonal methods and condoms work well when used correctly, and permanent methods are for people who are sure. Only condoms also protect against infections. The right method depends on your health and plans. Talk to a doctor, nurse, or midwife, and know that you can change your choice later.

Birth Control Options Explained: How They Work and How to Choose

Quick Answer

How Well Each Method Works