Contraceptive Failure Rate Chart
Sexuality & Contraception
Source: Concerned Parents Report
Contraceptive Method |
Failure Rate in Preventing Pregnancies |
Protection Against STDs |
Depo Provera Injection |
3% with typical use1 |
None |
Patch (Ortho Evra) |
8%2 |
None |
Vaginal Ring (Nuva Ring) |
8%2 |
None |
Tubal Ligation |
0.5%2 |
None |
Mini-pills (progestin-only pills) |
8% with typical use1 |
None |
IUD (dependent upon type of IUD) |
1.8%2 |
None |
Birth Control Pills |
8% with typical use1 |
None |
Condom: Male |
15% with typical use1 |
85% protection against HIV/AIDs, some protection from other STDs3 |
Condom: Female |
21% with typical use1 |
Some protection |
Cervical Cap |
16% with typical use in women who have not delivered vaginally1 |
None |
Reality Sponge (women with no children |
16%2 |
None |
Reality Sponge (women with children) |
32%2 |
None |
Diaphram |
16% with typical use1 |
None |
Spermicide only |
29%2 |
None |
Cervical Cap |
32% with typical use in women who have delivered vaginally1 |
None |
1Consumer Reports, Condoms and Contraception, February 2005.
2Trussel J. Contraceptive Efficacy. In Hatcher RA, Trussell J, Stewart F, Nelson A, Cates W, Guest F, Kowal D. Contraceptive Technology: 18th Revised Edition. New York NY: Ardent Media, 2004.
3Hitchcock P. Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention: Workshop Summary. Hernfon (VA): DIANE Publishing, 2001. (From a workshop help by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, June 12-13, 2001.)
Printed with permission from the Concerned Parents Report.