What are my Chances of Getting Pregnant on Different Types of Birth Control?
There are many different types of birth control, and each has its own set of pros and cons when it comes to pregnancy prevention. In this guide, you’ll learn about the effectiveness of various types of birth control and how they compare to one another, plus important things to consider before you choose your birth control method.
Birth Control Pill
The birth control pill is one of your most reliable forms of contraception, though it’s not perfect. For example, women who are overweight or obese have a slightly higher risk for getting pregnant while taking oral contraceptives. In addition, about 9 in 100 women may become pregnant in a year of starting oral contraceptives. Most unplanned pregnancies happen because couples fail to use contraception properly; if you’re at high risk for pregnancy (if you haven’t gone through menopause), take your pills more than three hours apart or skip them altogether and you may be at increased risk.
Male Condom
The male condom is one of the oldest forms of birth control and can provide a nice level of protection from pregnancy. However, it’s not completely foolproof—it’s possible to break, come off or have an accidental slippage during intercourse. If you use condoms for birth control, you have about a 15 percent chance (or higher) of getting pregnant in any given year. That said, if you're only having unprotected sex once every few months, that might be enough protection for your needs. In addition to birth control benefits, condoms also offer protection against sexually transmitted diseases and even HIV. Most health insurance plans cover condoms with no additional cost after age 18. Keep in mind that not all brands work equally well—some may break more easily than others.
Intrauterine Device (IUD)
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are small, T-shaped devices inserted into your uterus by a health care provider that prevent pregnancy. There are two kinds of IUDs available in the United States: Paragard and Mirena. Paragard is a copper IUD, which means it contains no hormones. Because Paragard doesn’t contain hormones, it doesn’t protect against HIV/AIDS or other STDs and you should use condoms to reduce your risk for contracting an STD if you choose to use Paragard as birth control. If you want to avoid hormonal side effects, Mirena is a good option because it uses a low dose of progesterone. As with all forms of birth control, using an IUD does not guarantee that you won’t get pregnant. But studies show that less than 1 percent of women who have had their IUDs inserted become pregnant within one year of having it put in place. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends considering getting an IUD if you are looking for long-term protection from pregnancy but don't want to take daily medication or have surgery.
The Shot (Depo-Provera)
Depo-Provera is a long-lasting injectable contraceptive that’s given once every three months. It prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation, thickening cervical mucus and lowering sperm count. The shot has been proven to be one of the most effective forms of birth control (the CDC says it’s 99 percent effective when used perfectly). The key word there is perfectly—it can be less effective when women don’t get their shots at a regular interval or fail to remember to use backup birth control immediately after getting their shots. What are your chances if you do it wrong? According to the CDC, about seven out of 100 women will become pregnant each year while using Depo-Provera as their only form of contraception. That number jumps up to 10 out of 100 for those who aren’t getting their shots regularly.
Knowledge is Key
So there you have it. Condoms and birth control methods like Depo-Provera offer women extremely effective contraception, and can prevent unplanned pregnancies if they’re used correctly. However, they can’t prevent them 100% of the time—unprotected sex is always a risk with condoms, just as it is with birth control pills. In many ways, modern contraceptives bring us closer to our goal of lowering unplanned pregnancy rates. Make sure you do your research about your particular method of choice and make an appointment with ACPC Women's Clinic or pharmacist about any questions or concerns you might have.
Sources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Contraception.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019, www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/index.htm.
- Henigsman, Stacy A. “Can You Get Pregnant While on the Pill: 5 Ways It Can Happen.” Www.medicalnewstoday.com, 11 Mar. 2022, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322799#effectiveness.
- American College, of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Implants and Intrauterine Devices.” Www.acog.org, Nov. 2017, www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin/articles/2017/11/long-acting-reversible-contraception-implants-and-intrauterine-devices.
