What
is the most effective method of contraception?
We've
never had greater freedom to plan our future families, with more power than
ever to decide whether or not to have children at all. If we do want to become
mothers, we can also choose the optimum age for us based on our employment,
relationships, money, and mental and physical health.
However,
the choice can be perplexing at times, and the more we learn about our bodies,
the more critical it becomes to make the best contraceptive decisions for our
health, sex life, and fertility.
It's
our bodies and our choice, whether we take a pill every day or rely on an
invisible and symptom-free Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC)
alternative, therefore it's critical to educate ourselves.
To
assist you, we've tallied up today's modern options and their efficacy to
assist you in determining what's best for you:
Natural
Cycles fertility awareness app
EFFECTIVENESS:
93%
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Since
the launch of Natural Cycles, the first app to be certified as a contraceptive
by the EU, there's been a lot of debate about apps and digital cycle tracking.
Despite the fact that it makes use of cutting-edge algorithms and your
smartphone, it's essentially reverting to one of the first ways of birth
control: fertility awareness and 'natural' planning. To put it another way, it
keeps track of your temperature, menstruation, and ovulation to determine when
you're fertile. It's a small window of only a few days, but if you get it
wrong, you could end up pregnant.
The
app can be as successful as the pill if used appropriately and your cycle is
consistent and traceable. While knowing and understanding your cycle is
excellent, unless you're okay with the possibility of becoming pregnant, it's
definitely not reliable enough on its own.
Female
condoms (or Femidoms)
EFFECTIVENESS:
79-95%
The
female condom can be fairly reliable depending on how properly it's applied,
but it's not a fantastic idea if you're a bit sloppy. Though some women want to
be in charge of their own non-hormonal protection, it's not a particularly
common option.
Apart
from that, if you absolutely don't want to get pregnant, the male condom is
usually more effective when used correctly.
Condoms
(male)
EFFECTIVENESS:
85-95%
Regular
condoms are 98 per cent effective at preventing pregnancy, according to Planned
Parenthood, a US family planning organisation. Condoms are only about 85 per
cent effective since individuals aren't perfect and don't always use them
exactly as they're supposed to (e.g., putting it on too late or incorrectly,
causing it to split).
"This
means that each year, roughly 15 out of every 100 persons who use condoms as
their sole form of birth control will become pregnant."
It's
quite frightening. They are, however, incredibly effective when used
appropriately, and they do not require hormones. You also know whether they've
broken up, which can offer you a sense of power.
Injection
EFFECTIVENESS:
99%+
According
to the Brook organisation, which provides sex and contraception advice to young
people, the injection is more than 99 per cent effective and can prevent
pregnancy for 8, 12, or 13 weeks, depending on the drug used.
It
primarily acts by preventing ovulation, and it is unaffected by other drugs.
You also don't have to remember to take it every day because you get it from
your doctor – however, you do have to remember to make an appointment.
The
combined pill (often known as just ‘the pill’)
EFFECTIVENESS:
91-99%
According
to the NHS, the pill is nearly 99 per cent effective at preventing pregnancy
when taken appropriately. However, because we aren't flawless, regular use
diminishes its average effectiveness to roughly 91%.
This
might entail taking it at odd times, forgetting a pill or two during a cycle,
taking it with other prescriptions, or taking it while you're unwell or have an
upset stomach, all of which can diminish its effectiveness.
The
progesterone-only, or ‘mini’ pill
EFFECTIVENESS:
91-99%
The
small pill's effectiveness is reduced to around 91 per cent with our typical
use, which is another hormonal technique that's pretty darn reliable.
Both
pills are hormonal, though different brands employ different hormones and
doses, so make sure you're choosing the proper one for you.
There
are also medical reasons to choose one over the other, such as if you have a
family history of breast cancer (in which case the tiny pill is frequently
recommended), or if you suffer PMS or hormonal acne (which can be improved by
the combined pill).
There's
also mounting evidence associating the pill with depression, so pay
attention to how you're feeling - physically and emotionally - during your
first few months on the medicine, as switching to a different tablet may help.
The
IUD (or ‘coil’) and IUS (the Mirena or Jaydess)
EFFECTIVENESS:
99%+
Because
you can't forget to use these methods, they're among the most dependable of all
contraception, with the NHS rating them as 99 per cent effective.
The
IUS is a hormonal T-shaped implant in the uterus that prevents ovulation and
thickens cervical mucus by combining hormones. Because it is contained within
the womb, only modest amounts of localised hormones are necessary.
The
IUD is a non-hormonal alternative that works by irritating the uterine lining and
preventing an embryo from implanting. The coil is essentially a T-shaped device
that rests right inside your uterus, despite its name.
It
can induce heavy periods (particularly in the first few months), but it can
also cause periods to stop, which can be alarming or exciting depending on how
you feel. They don't offer any protection against STIs.
Fitting
one of these within five days of having unprotected intercourse can also be
used as an emergency contraceptive method, as it prevents an embryo from
implanting and developing into a pregnancy.
Vaginal
ring
EFFECTIVENESS:
91-99%
This
is a rather uncommon method of contraception these days, but it has a high
success rate in preventing pregnancy when used correctly. A ring is placed in
the vaginal canal, which secretes hormones that suppress ovulation and thicken
cervix mucus. Because the hormones flow right into your reproductive system
rather than through your stomach, it isn't affected whether you're sick or on
other medications. It is, however, difficult to insert and remove, and you may
forget to change it at the appropriate time, resulting in hormonal side effects
such as breast discomfort and increased vaginal discharge.
Diaphragm
EFFECTIVENESS: 92-96%
A
diaphragm or cap is 92-96 per cent effective at preventing pregnancy when worn
correctly with spermicide, according to the NHS. The cap is inserted into your
vaginal canal and covers the cervix, preventing sperm from reaching your egg
when paired with spermicide.
The
patch
EFFECTIVENESS:
91-99%
The
patch, like the implant, works well because it can be placed on and forgotten
about. It contains trace levels of hormones that pass through your skin and
into your system. Its effectiveness is lessened if it slips off or if you
neglect to refill it on a regular basis.
It
does have a low dose of hormones and is non-invasive, so it can be a wonderful
alternative for those who don't want to utilise some of the more intrusive LARC
treatments if done correctly.
The
implant
EFFECTIVENESS:
99%+
According
to the Family Planning Association, using the implant, which is a little,
rod-shaped hormonal device that fits just beneath the skin of your upper arm,
fewer than 1 in 1000 women will become pregnant over a three-year period.
The
‘pull-out method’
EFFECTIVENESS:
N/A
To
be honest, this isn't truly a contraceptive approach. It doesn't prevent
against STIs, and it also doesn't guarantee that you won't get pregnant.
Because sperm can be found in your man's 'pre-cum,' and if he doesn't pull it
all the way out in time, there's nothing stopping you from being pregnant. So,
if you don't want to have a child, this is probably not for you.
The
morning after pill
EFFECTIVENESS:
UP TO 95%
Emergency
contraception isn't the most reliable method for preventing pregnancy after
you've had unprotected sex. If it's too late, and taking the morning after pill
as soon as possible (within 24 hours) is your only alternative, it'll work
approximately 95% of the time. This drops to roughly 89 per cent after three
days.