Methods of contraception that are available include: implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs), injections, pills, vaginal rings, barrier methods, sterilisation, emergency contraception and natural methods. Condoms are the best available protection against sexually transmissible infections (STIs).
With typical or average use, here's how effective birth control pills vs. condoms are in preventing pregnancy: Birth control pills are 91% effective. Male condoms are 87% effective.
The bottom line is that condoms provide protection against STI's (sexually transmitted infections) in addition to preventing pregnancy. Birth control pills only prevent pregnancy.
Contraceptives that are more than 99% effective:
intrauterine system, or IUS (up to 5 years) intrauterine device, or IUD, also called the coil (up to 5 to 10 years) female sterilisation (permanent) male sterilisation or vasectomy (permanent)
Condoms don't just help prevent pregnancy — they also help protect you from STDs, which the pill doesn't do. So why add the birth control pill (or another kind of birth control like the IUD or implant) into the mix? For one thing, using the pill and a condom together means you're super protected against pregnancy.
Sperm can't pass through a condom. The only way that could happen is if the condom breaks or if it has a hole in it. Otherwise, sperm stays trapped inside the condom. That's why condoms are so good at preventing pregnancy.
When used correctly every time you have sex, male condoms are 98% effective. This means 2 out of 100 people will become pregnant in 1 year when male condoms are used as contraception.
As long as sexual interaction takes place and sperm enters the vagina, there is a chance of pregnancy even while taking the pill. The withdrawal method is also not 100% effective, which means that pulling out while on the pill does not reduce the chance of pregnancy to 0%.
When you use the birth control pill correctly, it gives you really great protection against pregnancy — even if semen (cum) gets into the vagina. If you use it perfectly, the pill is 99% effective.
Sperm can live inside the female body for up to five days. 3 So even if you do not ovulate for another four days after having sex, sperm could still be living inside you that can fertilize your egg when it is released.
There's no wrong way to come off the pill, and it's perfectly safe to go 'cold turkey'. There is no need to 'wean' yourself off the pill as you might with other medications. After you stop taking the pill, your menstrual cycle will take some time to readjust, leading to an irregular cycle for a few months.
Levonorgestrel. Birth control pills containing levonorgestrel appear to have a lower risk of side effects, such as blood clots, than pills containing other types of progestin.
Long-term side effects of birth control are rare. Your age, previous health problems, and tobacco use may increase your risk for long-term side effects. These effects can include blood clots, heart attack, cancer, migraines, and mood swings.
There's been a lot of research on common birth control side effects. And studies show that the pill, the ring, the patch, and the IUD don't make you gain weight or lose weight.
The most common reason for failure, besides not using a condom every time, is that the condom breaks or partially or completely slips off the penis. Slippage occurs more often than breakage, usually when a condom is too large.
If one or both of you test positive for an STI you may both need treatment before you think about stopping using condoms. If one of you has a viral STI, such as herpes or HIV, it will be safer to continue using condoms. If you have been using condoms to prevent pregnancy, you'll need to switch to an alternative method.
If you start taking the birth control pill in the first five days of your menstrual cycle (i.e., the first five days of bleeding), then it's effective right away. But if you start the pill at any other time in your cycle, you need to use condoms for a week, to let the pill reach full effectiveness.
How many sperm do you need to get pregnant? It takes just one sperm to fertilize a woman's egg. Keep in mind, though, for each sperm that reaches the egg, there are millions that don't. On average, each time men ejaculate they release nearly 100 million sperm.
The pull-out method is about 80% effective. About one in five people who rely on the pull-out method for birth control become pregnant.
Birth control implants are almost 100% effective. It's the most effective form of reversible contraception available.
Abstinence is the only 100% effective method of preventing pregnancy. Intrauterine devices (IUDs), sterilization (tubal ligation for women or vasectomy for men), and birth control implants are about 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. The birth control shot is about 94% effective.
Certain birth control methods, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and the implant have the lowest risk of failure (pregnancy). This is because they are the easiest to use properly. You should consider these methods if you want the lowest chance of a mistake or failure, which could lead to pregnancy.
Post-pill side effects are often similar to those right before a period, and may include cramps, bloating and mood swings – but keep in mind that these can be more intense than your average PMS episode on the pill. Some women also develop pregnancy-like symptoms, such as nausea and breast tenderness.