Medically reviewed by Sophia Yen, MD, MPH – Written by Pandia Health Editorial Team. Updated on January 25th, 2021
Math and birth control… an unlikely but essential combination. There is comfort in understanding the numbers, and it is always recommended that you know how your medication works, including when your sexual health is involved. Let’s take a closer look at the effectiveness of your birth control.
If you want to get started today on preventing unplanned pregnancy with the pill, patch, or ring, sign up with Pandia Health today!
How do I calculate how effective my birth control is?
Have you ever wondered how you can use birth control to decrease your chances of getting pregnant? Many numbers are floating around the internet about the effectiveness of different types of birth control, but Pandia Health is here to simplify this. Let’s look at how you can calculate the effectiveness of your birth control and your chances of getting pregnant when using each method.
Chances of getting pregnant while on birth control
Implant: Of the people with uteri that use the implant, 5/10,000 usually get pregnant. This gives you a 0.05% chance of getting pregnant if you choose this method. On its own, the implant is the most effective birth control option!
Hormonal IUD: When using the IUD with hormones, 2/1000 women will get pregnant. That means you have a 0.2% chance of getting pregnant using this method.
Copper IUD: When using the copper IUD, 8/1000 women will get pregnant, which means women using this method have a 0.8% of getting pregnant.
Birth control shot: Of the women that use the birth control shot, 6/100 will get pregnant. If you use the birth control shot, you have a 6% chance of getting pregnant.
Birth control ring: How effective is NuvaRing? 9/100 women (9%) will get pregnant when using the birth control ring.
Birth control patch: 9/100 women will get pregnant (9%) when using the birth control patch. This method has the same effectiveness (with typical use) as the birth control ring.
Combined birth control pill: When using the birth control pill, 9/100 women usually get pregnant (9%).
Progestin-only birth control pill (POPs): When using Progestin Only Pills (POPs), 9/100, or 9%, of women usually get pregnant.
Condoms: Using condoms, 18/100 women (18%) usually get pregnant. This method of contraception is the only way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. To prevent STIs, condoms should be used in combination with another method, like the birth control patch.
Spermicide: When using spermicide alone, about 28/100, or 28%, of women will get pregnant.
*These numbers are for perfect use as directed. The math changes when not used perfectly.
Birth control effectiveness math
Being concerned about the risk of pregnancy and childbirth is very real. But by combining multiple forms of birth control, the math is in your favor. If you are really worried about pregnancy, Pandia Health recommends these effective combinations that lead to the lowest chances of conceiving when used together.
- the implant + condoms = 9/100,000 chance of conceiving or
- IUD with hormone + condoms = 3.6/10,000 chance of conceiving
Here is the math for some other common birth control combinations:
- Condoms + combined birth control pill or patch or ring = 1.6/100 chance of conceiving
- Condoms + spermicide = 3/100 chance of conceiving
How effective is the pull out method
Without any protection, you will very likely get pregnant. The chance of you getting pregnant without using any form of protection (e.g. birth control pills or condoms) is 85%. Keep in mind, if you don’t use a condom, you also risk catching sexually transmitted infections like HIV.
How can Pandia Health help?
Want to know what the best method of birth control is for you? At Pandia Health, we take pride in prescribing birth control based on the “Pandia Health algorithm”, which considers several factors, including age, race/ethnicity, BMI, and your personal medical history.
Our expert doctors can advise on the proper use of your birth control, as this can change its effectiveness. For example, taking the pill at the same time every day lowers your risk of getting pregnant.
With just one $25 payment a year, you can get access to our expert doctors (available in these states) for 364 days. To get started today on preventing unplanned pregnancy with the pill, patch, ring, contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is birth control 100 effective?
No. The only way to not become pregnant is to abstain from sex.
How effective are birth control and condoms?
The effectiveness of birth control depends on the method you choose. Condoms themself are 18% effective.
What are the odds of getting pregnant on birth control?
The odds of getting pregnant on birth control range from 0.05. It all depends on the type of birth control you choose.
How many people get pregnant on the pill?
Using the pill, about 9/100 (9%) of people get pregnant.
How effective are birth control pills without pulling out?
Birth control pills are only 91% effective because people are not perfect—that is the effectiveness rate with typical use (people make mistakes!).
What are the chances of getting pregnant with an IUD?
Women using copper IUDs have a 0.8% chance of getting pregnant. Those using a hormonal IUD have a 0.2% chance of getting pregnant.
What are the chances of getting pregnant without protection?
Without any protection, you can be very likely to get pregnant. The chance of you getting pregnant without using any form of protection (e.g. birth control pills or condoms) is 85%. Keep in mind, if you don’t use a condom, you also risk sexually transmitted infections.
What happens if you get pregnant while on birth control?
It depends on which method you are using, but if it is the birth control pill, patch, ring, shot, or implant nothing would happen to the pregnancy. There have been several cases of women continuing to take their birth control until the day the baby was born (they didn’t know they were pregnant) and the baby was fine.
If using an IUD, then there could be spontaneous abortion. Studies have shown that the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, and infection of the amniotic sac and fluid before delivery (chorioamnionitis) is higher when IUDs are left in place during pregnancy compared to pregnancies in which the IUD is removed.
Why are condoms not 100 percent effective?
People are not perfect, which is why condoms are not 100% effective—this goes for other birth control methods too. Condoms can also fail as an effective method by breaking or being put on incorrectly.
The above information is for general informational purposes only and is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor/primary care provider before starting or changing treatment.