Which Birth Control Is the Most Effective?
It may remain in place for up to five years. Another option in the 99-percent-or-more-effective category is Implanon, a tiny rod that is inserted into your arm where it releases a continuous amount of progestin to prevent pregnancy. It can remain in place up to three years.
Other hormone-related options, including birth control pills, the OrthoEvra patch, the NuvaRing vaginal ring and progestin injections like Depo-Provera, are considered "very effective," meaning they prevent pregnancy 91 to 99 percent of the time. Depo-Provera works for three months; the others for one month.
These invasive options are followed by more moderately effective options, which typically prevent pregnancy 81 to 90 percent of the time. They include male and female condoms, the Today Sponge and a diaphragm.
The least effective category of birth control options, which typically prevent pregnancy up to 80 percent of the time, includes natural family planning, which you may know as the "rhythm method," the cervical cap (FemCap or Lea's Shield), and spermicide foams, creams, jellies, films and suppositories.
What's right for you depends on your age and health, the type of relationship you're in and your current concerns about pregnancy.
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