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	Contraception success rates Contraceptive choice is in part dependent on the effectiveness of the contraceptive method in preventing unplanned pregnancy, which, in turn, is dependent for some methods not only on the protection afforded by the method itself, but also on how consistently and correctly it is used. The following table compares the percentage of women experiencing an unintended pregnancy during the first year of contraceptive method use when the method is used perfectly (consistently and correctly).14-20 Both consistent and correct use can vary greatly with such characteristics as age, income, users' desires to prevent or delay pregnancy, and culture. † For a given method of contraception, the Pearl Index is defined as the total number of unplanned pregnancies which occur per 100-woman years of use. Thus, a Pearl Index of 0.2 indicates that two pregnancies occur per 1000-woman years, i.e. two pregnancies in 1000 women using the method for 1 year, or 10 pregnancies in 500 women using it for 10 years. Method Pearl Index † Male condom 14-19 7-14 Female condom20 5 Combined pill14-19 0.03-2.36 Progestin-only pill14-19 0.4-4.3 Patch14-19 1 Injection14-19 0.03-0.9 Implant20 0.05 IUD14-19 0.5-3.0 IUS14-19 0.1 Vaginal ring14-19 1 Diaphragm14-19 6-29 Diaphragm plus spermicide14-19 2-25 Cap20 9*-26** Male sterilisation20 0.01 Female sterilisation14-19 0.1 Withdrawal method14-19 10-40 Natural methods20 3-9*** * Before a woman has given birth. ** After a woman has given birth. *** Varies according to natural method used. References Leidenberger FA. Klinische Endokrinologie fur Frauenarzte. Berlin, Germany: Springer Verlag, 1998 Baltzer J, Mickan H. Gynakologie: Ein kurzgefabtes Lehrbuch/Kern. Neuberbeitete Auflage. Stuttgart, Germany, Georg Thieme Verlag, 1985 Organon. NuvaRing (etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring) 2001. Available at: http://www.nuvaring.com. Ortho-McNeil Pharmceutical Inc. Ortho Evra (Norelgestromin/ Ethinyl estradiol transdermal system) 2001. Available at: http://www.orthoevra.com. Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Inc. Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo tablets (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol) 2002. Available at: http://www.orthotricyclen.com Speroff L, Darney PD. Periodic Abstinence. A clinical guide for contraception. 3rd edn. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2001 Trussell J. Contraceptive efficacy. In Hatcher RA, Trussell J, Stewart F, Nelson A, Cates W, Guest F, Kowal D. Contraceptive Technology; Eighteenth Revised Edition. New York NY: Ardent Media, 2004 YOUR LIFE HCPs PARENTS TEACHERS PRESS   « print this page » « Previous | Next »

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