Birth Control

Birth control pills, IUDs, and the patch are examples of temporary methods of birth control. Many forms of birth control release hormones. Unlike temporary methods of birth control the Essure procedure does not contain hormones and provides women permanent birth control. The chart below lists information on the most well-known temporary methods of contraception.

Pill
Typical Use Effectiveness Rate [#] 92%
Women who stop using method for a method related cause [*] 32%
User maintenance required [1] Daily
Advantages [1]
  • * Highly effective when taken correctly and consistently
  • Highly studied and very safe for most women
  • For some women, the pill may decrease menstrual camps and pain
  • Can be used throughout reproductive years
  • Rapid return to fertility
Disdvantages [1]
  • Incorrect or inconsistent use raises risk of pregnancy
  • Some women experience decreased sex drive

  • Some women may experience nausea/vomiting, headache, and/or unwanted menstrual cycle changes.

  • Small risk of heart attack, stroke, and other problems especially among smokers over 35
Male Condom

Typical Use Effectiveness Rate [#]

85% [1]
Women who stop using method for a method related cause [*] 47% [2]

User maintenance required [1]

Each act of intercourse
Advantages [1]
  • Protection from sexually transmitted infections including HIV
  • Low cost, easily obtained, and portable
  • Minimal side effects due to absence of hormones
  • Immediate return to fertility
Disdvantages [1]
  • * Reduced sensitivity
  • Reduced spontaneity
  • Some men and women may be allergic to latex condoms
  • Must use technique to prevent leakage and/or spillage of sperm
Patch
Typical Use Effectiveness Rate [#] 99.7% [1] 0
Women who stop using method for a method related cause [*] 16% [2]
User maintenance required [1] Once weekly
Advantages [1]
  • Highly effective when used correctly and consistently
  • Rapid return to fertility
Disdvantages [1]
  • Patch can become detached
  • Incorrect or inconsistent use raises risk of pregnancy

  • Skin irritation may occur

  • Carries risks similar to the pill
Injections
Typical Use Effectiveness Rate [#] 99.7% [1]
Women who stop using method for a method related cause [*] 44% [2]
User maintenance required [1] Injections every 3 months
Advantages [1]
  • Progestin-only contraceptive provides an alternative for women who cannot use estrogen contraception
  • May reduce or eliminate your period
  • May decrease menstrual cramps and pain
  • Decreased risk of some types of cancer
Disdvantages [1]
  • Drug may take 6-8 months to wear off, increasing time to return to fertility
  • Long term use may result in a decrease in bone density

  • High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels fall significantly

  • Rarely, some women may have allergic reactions
  • Menstrual cycle changes
  • Weight gain and/or feeling bloated
  • Some women experience breast tenderness
  • Some women report depression
IUD
Typical Use Effectiveness Rate [#] 99.2% [1]
Women who stop using method for a method related cause [*] 36% [2]
User maintenance required [1] Check strings regularly to make sure device is still there

Advantages [1]
  • Women who cannot use hormonal methods can use the copper IUD
  • Does not interfere with lactation
  • Some IUDs decrease menstrual blood loss and pain

  • Lower cost with prolonged use

  • IUDs do not cause systemic side-effects (except in patients with copper allergies or Wilson’s disease)
Disdvantages [1]
  • Not easy to start/stop use – requires a medical procedure to insert and remove
  • Rarely, some women develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease after insertion, which requires aggressive treatment and follow-up
  • About 10% of women experience expulsion in the first year of use.
  • If a pregnancy occurs, the IUD may cause pregnancy complications and should be removed immediately
  • IUDs may be associated with painful menses or menstrual problems. About 10%-15% of copper IUD users have abnormal bleeding or spotting.
  • Rarely, the IUD may make a hole in the uterus/cervix or become implanted in the uterus.

[#] “Typical use effectiveness” means that the method was not used correctly or was not used with every act of intercourse (e.g., sometimes forgot to take a birth control pill as directed and became pregnant), or was used correctly but failed anyway.

º Data for typical use not available. Only “perfect use,” that recorded in a clinical trial, is available.

[*] “The typical woman who uses reversible methods of contraception continuously from her 15th birthday to her 45th birthday will discontinue contraceptive use for a method-related reason nearly 10 times.” [2]

[1] Trussell J. Contraceptive failure. In: Hatcher R, Trussell J. Stewart FH, et al. Contraceptive technology, 18th Ed. New York, NY: Ardent Media, Inc; 2004.

[2] Trussel J, Vaughn B, “Contraceptive Failure, Method-Related Discontinuation And Resumption of Use: Results from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth”, Family Planning Perspectives, 1999, 31(2) 64-72 & 93.

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