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Failure rate (contraception / efficacy of method)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Technique:

Method

Failure Rate defined as (pregnancies / 100 woman-years (%) )

Norplant; failure rate 0.2-1.1

0.2-1.1

Implanon (3)

fewer than 0.1 in 100 over 3 years (3)

Mirena coil

0.09

combined pill

0.2-0.3

mini-pill

0.3-5

condom

2-15

diaphragm and spermicide

5

IUCD (see below)

0.3-4

coitus interruptus

30

rhythm method

30 - 40

Depo Provera

< 0.5

none

60-70

 

Interpretation - 5% failure rate means that if 100 women used this form of contraception, 5 would be pregnant within one year.

Reference:

  1. Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 1996; 34 (12): 93-5.
  2. BNF 7.3
  3. NICE (October 2005). Long-acting reversible contraception

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