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