Best Birth Control Methods: Most Effective Birth Control Options

When it comes to birth control, preventing pregnancy, and the different birth control methods – you should be aware that what may work for you perfectly, may not work the same way for another person. Birth control methods take patience and determination. You should be careful with the way you use them, depending on what type of birth control you have opted for, you should be consistent and not take birth control, aka contraception, for granted. That is, in case you are not ready for kids yet, or any time soon. However, if you’re planning on having kids, then contraception is not necessary.

There are all sorts of ways you can prevent pregnancy. Beginning from implants and all the way to spermicide. Humanity has discovered different types of methods, that would suit the needs of different types of people who are sexually active, and are trying to avoid pregnancy. But, when it comes to the best birth control method, you should take into consideration a few things. According to WebMD, you should be aware of a few things before choosing a birth control method. Things like how much are you trying to avoid pregnancy, how much does the cost matter, do you also need it to protect you from sexually transmitted diseases, and do you care if your period gets affected?

Birth control methods are of any kind. Some of them are required to be used every time you have sex (such as condoms), hormonal methods (such as birth control pills, or patches), then there are medical procedures as well. However, it’s also important to note that although birth control methods are effective, people sometimes tend to not use them correctly, therefore the effectiveness percentage is lowered.

While the best way to avoid pregnancy is to not have penetrative sex and make sure you don’t do anything that may ensure the sperm gets direct contact with the vulva or the vagina, some birth control methods are ranked from the most effective to the least effective. Let’s not forget that the birth control methods that work on their own and do not include human interference are the most effective since as Justine Wu, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Michigan, explains, there will be no ‘human error’.

What are the best birth control methods?

Health has ranked the most effective birth control methods, based on the Centers for Disease Control numbers, and according to them, four of the most effective birth control methods are as follows:

1. The Birth Control Implant: (.05 pregnancies per 100 women in a year): The birth control implant is a thin rod in the size of a matchstick. It is inserted by a doctor in the upper arm of the woman, and it releases the hormone progestin which thickens the cervical mucus making it harder for the sperm to reach the egg. When the implant is inserted, you’re safe from pregnancy for about 5 years.

2. Male Sterilization: (.15 pregnancies per 100 women in a year): This method is also known as vasectomy and it includes cutting or blocking the tubes the sperm travel through from the testicles. According to Planned Parenthood, there are two types of vasectomy, the incision method, and the no-scalpel, no-cut, method. The second one lowers the risk of infections and other complications. Vasectomy is meant to be permanent, so you have a large amount of thinking to do before you decide you want to go through this procedure.

3. Hormonal IUD: (.2 pregnancies per 100 women in a year): IUD stands for ‘intrauterine device’, and it’s shaped like a T. It’s a bit bigger than a quarter and it fits inside of the uterus by a doctor or a nurse, and depending on the type it lasts from 5 to 10 years. According to WebMD, it stops pregnancy by stopping sperm from reaching the eggs. Reportedly, there are five types available in the US. Four of them, Liletta, Kyleena, Mirena, and Skyla, release small amounts of the hormone progestin.

– Copper IUD (.8 pregnancies per 100 women in a year): ParaGard, is also known as the copper T IUD is the fifth type of IUD. This one is hormone-free and the copper triggers the immune system to prevent pregnancy.

4. Female Sterilization (.5 pregnancies per 100 women in a year): Female sterilization is a permanent procedure to prevent pregnancy. According to Healthline, it works by blocking the fallopian tubes. There are two types of female sterilization, surgical and nonsurgical. The surgical procedure is tubal ligation where fallopian tubes are cut or blocked. Nonsurgical procedures, on the other hand, are made using devices that are placed in the fallopian tubes to seal them. This kind of procedure doesn’t require a surgery (cut).

What are the other birth control options?

Apart from the aforementioned methods, there are also other birth control types that can prevent pregnancy quite effectively. Just because the upper-mentioned have the highest effectiveness rates, it doesn’t mean that the other ones do not work just as well. Some of the other birth control methods from the most effective to the least, according to the Centers for Disease Control numbers are:

– Birth Control Shot

– Birth Control Pill

– Birth Control Patch

– The Vaginal Ring

– The Diaphragm

– The Male Condom

– The Female Condom

– Withdrawal

– Birth Control Sponge

Keep in mind that the only birth control method that prevents pregnancy as well as protects you from any sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), is the male condom. People, usually, use a form of birth control, such as the birth control pill, together with the condom for extra protection.

Some birth control methods can also have side effects. To learn more about the birth control pill, how it’s used, and the side effects it may have, head over to our article on Birth Control Pills: How To Use Them & Birth Control Pills Side Effects here.

To learn more about 12 different birth control methods, head over to our article on Types Of Birth Control: 12 Different Birth Control Methods here.

Disclaimer: The contents of this article: text, graphics, images, and other materials contained are strictly for informational purposes only. The Content is NOT intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. Please ALWAYS seek the advice of a qualified health provider with all the questions that you have related to, or about, a medical condition.