Why does birth control fail?

Women who use birth control may think they don’t need to worry about failure of their contraceptive. But consider this, fifty-three percent of unplanned pregnancies occur in women who are using birth control. When considering a certain type of birth control most women often base their birth control choice on published success/ failure rates. However, these rates are based on “perfect use” – that means the birth control is used exactly as it should be during every act of sexual intercourse.

What are some reasons that birth control fails?

The reasons for failure are complex and vary according to method:

• Birth control pills may fail if a woman forgets to take them every day at the same time or if 2 or more pills are missed during a cycle and a back-up method of birth control is not used.
• Diaphragms and cervical caps can be moved out of place by the penis thrusting against the cervix.
• Condoms can break and/ or semen can leak from them.
• Period abstinence, or natural family planning, can fail if a woman does not accurately predict her fertile period.
• IUDs can be dislodged.
• Withdrawal can fail if pre-ejaculatory semen enters the cervix or if the man is unable to withdraw his penis before ejaculation.

Birth control failure rates

Implants and injectables 2-4%
Oral contraceptives 9%
Diaphragm and cervical cap 13%
Male condom 15%
Periodic abstinence 22%
Withdrawal 26%
Spermicides 28%

Strategies for effective birth control

• Use your chosen birth control method consistently.
• Carefully follow instructions for the use of your birth control method.
• Use a back-up contraception like a condom, if you forget 2 or more birth control pills during your cycle.
• Certain antibiotics and other drugs can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills–ask your pharmacist if this is a concern for you whenever you fill a prescription.
• Take birth control pills at the same time each day.
• Using a condom and spermicide with a diaphragm or cervical cap during your fertile period can result in almost 100% contraceptive success.
• If you use an IUD, check for the string extending from your cervix monthly, if you can’t feel it use back-up birth control and call your doctor.
• Call your doctor immediately for emergency contraceptives, like Plan B, after unprotected sex.

BirthControlBuzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, birth control types (prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line.

For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit https://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.

Birth Control Buzz is a service company that provides birth control prices, types of birth control(prescription required), health administrative services, and birth control statistics predominantly to US patients seeking to purchase pharmaceuticals on-line. For more information, call 1-866-868-8850 or visit http://www.birthcontrolbuzz.com/.