Please read slowly so you don’t miss how surprisingly unreliable birth control can be.
Perfect vs. typical use
First; it’s helpful to be aware that there is a big difference between the “perfect use” of contraceptives, and the common, “typical” use (according to Swedish Medical Product Agency.) This means, studies performed to test how effective a pill is, are performed in a controlled environment where the subject is instructed how to use it perfectly. In real life, birth controls are less reliable than intended.
The stats
Second, let’s go through the numbers:
6 in 100 women who use injectable birth control in a typical way, will have an unplanned pregnancy during the first year. Which makes injectable birth controls only 94% safe.
9 in 100 women who use either of the following contraceptives in a typical way, will have an unplanned pregnancy during the first year.
- “the pill” combined oral contraceptive pill (9% risk of unplanned pregnancy)
- “mini pill” progestogen-only pill (9% risk of unplanned pregnancy)
- contraceptive patch (9% risk of unplanned pregnancy)
About 15 in 100 women who use either of the following contraceptives in a typical way, will have an unplanned pregnancy during the first year.
- presses in combination with spermicides (12% risk for unplanned pregnancy)
- male condom (18% risk for unplanned pregnancy)
About 23 in 100 women who use either of the following contraceptives in a typical way, will have an unplanned pregnancy during the first year.
- canceled intercourse (22% risk of unplanned pregnancy)
- natural family planning (24% risk of unplanned pregnancy)
This should be put in relation to the fact that 85 in 100 women, who are not actively trying to get pregnant, but not using any contraceptives, will have an unplanned pregnancy in a year.
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