Today there is a wide variety of forms of birth control available that can be used to limit the size of a family. All methods of birth control have the same goal, but not all have the same reliability. Before choosing the type of birth control that is best, couples should take the time to consider birth control statistics.

The only truly 100% effective method of birth control is abstinence. Abstinence means not engaging in sexual intercourse at all. Practicing abstinence is free and foolproof, but not many people in a healthy relationship will likely choose this birth control method.

A more common but still free form of birth control couples may choose is called natural family planning or the rhythm method. To use this method, the female partner must keep track of her menstrual cycle. Starting with the first day of her period, which is designated as Day One, she will then calculate which days are 10-21 on her cycle. The couple should avoid sexual intercourse during this time period, as conception is most likely to occur then. The rhythm method works best for women who have a regular menstrual cycle that does not vary from month to month, but ovulation prediction kits or temperature charting can be used to more accurately pin down the days to avoid intercourse. However, overall this method has a failure rate of up to 25%, meaning that up to 25 of every 100 women who use this form of birth control over a year will end up pregnant anyway. The rhythm method also limits the intimate time partners can share.

Natural family planning methods can be very important for women who are breastfeeding, as nursing mothers cannot use hormonal birth control. Breastfeeding itself also offers some protection against pregnancy, but its failure rate increases as the child begins to eat solid foods more and nurse less. Breastfeeding alone has a birth control failure rate of 2-8% when nursing exclusively and on demand, which leads many couples to look for another option.

Barrier methods of birth control are great for breastfeeding mothers or anyone who dislikes other forms of birth control. These methods include the diaphragm, cervical cap, sponge, and male or female condoms. If used properly, these methods have a failure rate of 15%. However, improper or inconsistent use and malfunctioning equipment can raise this failure rate to as much as 25%. This is an unacceptable risk for many couples, who may then choose hormonal birth control.

Hormonal birth control is available for women only. One of the most common forms is the birth control pill. The pill works very well for women who are diligent about taking it as prescribed, with only a 2% failure rate. However, some women do not remember to take the pill every day, which can raise the failure rate to 8% or more. Other hormonal forms of birth control that require daily or weekly action on the part of the woman, such as the ring or patch, have similar failure rates, as does the shot that only requires a doctor’s visit every 3 months.

For women who cannot or do not have the time to keep up with a birth control routine, implants are another option. A doctor can implant an IUD (intra-uterine device) or another type of implant in the arm. An IUD protects against pregnancy for up to 5 years, and arm implants for up to 3 years. Both methods have a failure rate of less than 1%.

The final type of birth control is permanent sterilization. Vasectomies for men and tubal ligations for women have failure rates of less than 1%. Reversal is possible with each operation, but success rates vary, so couples must be sure they want no more children before undergoing sterilization.

Men and women alike can discuss other aspects of birth control, such as side effects, with their doctors. With a little research and guidance from doctors, every couple can easily find the birth control method that will work best for them.