Loading...
Birth control is not 100% effective and it varies by type. I will list some estimations of effectiveness a little further down.
First, for any of them to be effective they need to be properly applied. A good example is the male condom. Simple, right? Just place and unrap. Only if you have the right side up! The condom needs to be placed so it can smoothly and easily unrolled onto the penis. Get one out sometime and examine it closely to see what I mean. If in doubt unroll it just a bit to see which direction it unfurls. Do not try to force it as this has a good chance of tearing the condom. Instead check to make sure it is on right. If you do not pay attention you may find out too late that it ripped, leaving you exposed to the full risk of pregnancy.
A nice convenient way to demonstrate male condoms is to buy finger cots at the pharmacy. Basically they are condoms for the finger. They work the same way but in miniature and without lube or spermacide, which is why they are good for demonstration.
I don't know the rules on posting links so I am only going to quote them. This information can be found in many places online, although you should know that the reported statistics are not necessarily identical. For example one may show a percentage while another a range of numbers out of a 100, or out of 1000, etc. I am limiting this to only basic options since they are easier to acquire and more likely to be used by those who have limited access. More than one method of birth control can be used at a time which reduces the chances of pregnancy even more. The results I am listing here come from a PDF produced by the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA).
Without linking, you can use the following search terms to find the the full list: asha birth control method comparison chart. The first link should be to the PDF I am referencing. If it isn't the first, it should still be in the list.
Remember that these stats assume the the birth control method listed is being used faithfully and correctly each and every time.
Abstinance - 100% Male Condom - 84% Female Condom - 79% Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill) - 89%
Oral Contraceptive (The Pill) Vaginal Spermicide - 74% Sponge - 60% to 80%
Loading...