Success & Failure Rates of Contraceptives
This chart shows the percentages of women who accidentally get pregnant while using contraception over the course of one year.
| Key: |
| 1 Woman Becomes Pregnant: |
 |
| 100 Women Become Pregnant: |
 |
| Typical Use: |
When contraception is not used every
time, or it is not used according
to instructions every time. |
| Perfect Use: |
When contraception is used every time,
and it is used according to instructions
every time. |
|
| Male Condoms |
| Out of
100 Women Using Male Condoms: |
| Typical Use:
14 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Perfect Use:
3 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Withdrawal |
| Out
of 100 Women Using Withdrawal: |
| Typical Use:
19 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Perfect Use:
4 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Birth Control Pills - Combination |
| Out
of 100 Women Using Combination Birth Control Pills |
| Typical Use:
5 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Perfect Use:1 or Less Women Become Pregnant |
|
Estrogen/Progestin Hormonal Injections
(not currently available in the US) |
| Out
of 100 Women Using Estrogen/Progestin Injections: |
| Typical Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Perfect Use:
1 or Less Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Hormonal Implants |
| Out
of 100 Women Using Hormonal Implants |
| Typical Use:
1 or Less Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Perfect Use:
1 or Less Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Hormone Patch - Ortho-Evra |
| Out
of 100 Women Using the Hormone Patch: |
| Typical Use:
1 or Less Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Perfect Use:
1 or Less Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Vaginal Hormonal Ring - NuvaRing |
| Out
of 100 Women Using the Vaginal Hormonal Ring: |
| Typical Use:
An estimate, not yet known |
|
| Perfect Use:
1 or Less Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Spermicides |
| Out
of 100 Women Using Spermicides: |
| Typical Use:
26 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Perfect Use:
15 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Contraceptive Sponges |
| Out
of 100 Women Using Contraceptive Sponges |
| Typical Use:
13 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Perfect Use:
9 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Diaphragm |
| Out
of 100 Women Using a Diaphragm |
| Typical Use:
20 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Perfect Use:
6 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Cervical Cap |
| Out
of 100 Women Using a Cervical Cap |
| Typical Use:
18 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Perfect Use:
4 Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Female Condoms |
| Out
of 100 Women Using Female Condoms |
| Typical Use:
21 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Perfect Use:
5 Women Become Pregnant |
|
| IUD (Intrauterine Device) |
| Out
of 100 Women Using an IUD: |
| Typical Use:
3 Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Perfect Use:
3 Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Natural Family Planning |
| Out
of 100 Women Using Natural Family Planning |
| Typical Use:
24 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
| Perfect Use:
2 to 9 (average 6) Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Female Sterilization |
| Out
of 100 Women Using Female Sterilization |
| Typical Use:
1 or Less Women Become Pregnant |
|
| Perfect Use: 1 or Less Women Become Pregnant |
|
| No Contraceptive Method |
| Out
of 100 Women Using No Contraceptive Method |
| Typical Use:
85 Women Become Pregnant |
 |
Written and reviewed by the CYWH Staff at Boston Children's Hospital
Updated: 11/3/2009
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Making Healthy Sexual Decisions
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Pregnancy
Did you know that about 800,000 teen girls become pregnant in the United States each year, and more than 80% of these pregnancies are unplanned? Dealing with a pregnancy is one of the most important decisions a teen may need to make...
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