There are many methods of birth control from which to choose. No one choice will suit every woman. In making your decision, you'll need to talk to your health care provider and take into consideration the effectiveness, safety profile, and convenience of each method. Other considerations are your age, overall health, whether you smoke, your personal beliefs, and how often you have sex.

The chart below compares the effectiveness of different methods of birth control by showing how many women, on average, out of every 100 using each method, would become pregnant during the first year of continuous use.

To obtain some types of birth control - the Pill, contractive implants, contraceptive injection, the IUD, the diaphragm, and the cervical cap - you need to see your health care provider. The other kinds of birth control - male and female condoms, vaginal suppositories, foams, creams and jellies - can be bought at most drugstores and at some supermarkets.

The following section discusses how the various methods of birth control work and their advantages and disadvantages. Learning about each method and talking with Dr. Jamieson will help you decide on the right kind of birth control for you.

Contraceptive method failure rates during the first year of continuous use in the United States

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