How effective are the different contraceptive methods?

How effective are the different contraceptive methods?

All contraceptives help reduce the risk of pregnancy, but some are better than others.
 
Contraceptives that are more than 99% effective:
  • contraceptive implant (lasts up to 3 years)
  • hormone intrauterine device, or IUS (up to 5 years)
  • copper intrauterine device, or IUD, also called the coil (up to 5 to 10 years)
  • female sterilisation (permanent)
  • male sterilisation or vasectomy (permanent)
 
Contraceptives that are more than 99% effective if always used correctly, but generally less than 95% effective with typical use:
  • contraceptive injection (renewed every 8 weeks or every 12 weeks, depending on the type) - not available in Malta
  • combined pill (taken every day for 3 weeks out of every month)
  • progestogen-only pill (taken every day)   
  • contraceptive patch (renewed each week for 3 weeks in every month) - not available in Malta
  • vaginal ring (renewed once a month)
 
Contraceptives that are up to 98% effective if used correctly:
  • male condom (every time you have sex)
 
Contraceptives that are up to 95% effective if used correctly:
  • female condom (every time you have sex)
  • diaphragm or cap with spermicide (every time you have sex) - not available in Malta

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