Failure rate (%)
Method	Perfect use*	Typical use†	Dosing	Potential side effects	Advantages
Male latex condom	3	14	Every act of intercourse	Latex allergy	Recommended to be used in addition to another contraceptive; only method that decreases STD, HIV risk
Combination OCP	0.1	5	Daily	Breakthrough bleeding, nausea, headaches, breast tenderness	Decrease in: PID risk, ectopic pregnancy risk, menstrual blood loss, dysmenorrhea, acne
Progestin-only OCP	0.5	5	Daily (within 3-hour period)	Irregular bleeding, breast tenderness, depression	No estrogen‡ Decrease in: menstrual blood loss, dysmenorrhea
Combination contraceptive patch (Ortho Evra)	0.7	0.9	Weekly for 3 weeks (off on 4th week)	Breakthrough bleeding, nausea, headaches, breast tenderness, skin site reaction, less effective if patient is >90 kg (198 lb)	Similar to OCPs but less frequent dosing
Combined hormonal vaginal ring (NuvaRing)	0.65	N/A	Monthly (insert for 3 weeks of each month)	Vaginal irritation, vaginal discharge, headache	Similar to OCPs but less frequent dosing
Progestin-only injection (Depo-Provera)	0.3	0.3	3 months	Irregular bleeding or amenorrhea, weight gain, breast tenderness, acne, depression, possible decrease in bone density	No estrogen‡ Decrease in: menstrual blood loss, dysmenorrhea, PID risk
Copper-containing intrauterine device (ParaGard)	0.6	0.8	10 years	Heavier menses, dysmenorrhea	Easy to use, long-acting, nonhormonal
Levonorgestrel intrauterine system (Mirena)	0.1	0.1	5 years	Breakthrough bleeding in first 3 to 6 months, then hypo- or amenorrhea	No estrogen‡, easy to use, long-acting Decrease in: menstrual blood loss, dysmenorrhea, (possible) PID risk§
Combined hormonal monthly injection (Lunelle) ||	0.1	N/A	Monthly	Breakthrough bleeding, nausea, headaches, breast tenderness	Better cycle control and quicker return to fertility than progestin-only injection
Single-rod contraceptive implant (Implanon)||	0 to 0.2	N/A	3 years	Irregular bleeding or amenorrhea, weight gain, breast tenderness, acne, depression	No estrogen‡, easy to use, long-acting Decrease in: menstrual blood loss, dysmenorrhea, PID risk