Birth control options can vary depending on gender, age, body type, marital status, and religious beliefs. Apart from these, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has listed factors like one’s health status, the frequency of sexual activity, the number of partners one has, and plans for future childbirth; in choosing the right birth control methods. Choosing the right birth control practices are vital to reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy.

The birth control option can be effective depending on the usage and the methods adopted. There are both reversible and irreversible contraceptive methods.

Reversible methods:

• Intrauterine contraception: Copper T intrauterine device is a T-shaped device that is placed inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy. This remains intact in the uterus for about 10 years. The failure rate is as low as 0.8%. Levoborgestrel intrauterine system is a T-shaped device that is similar to copper T. It releases progestin every day that can prevent pregnancy. This can stay in the uterus for 5 years and the failure rate is as low as 0.2%.
• Hormonal methods: In this method, a thin rod is placed under the upper arm of the woman that releases progestin over a period of 3 years. The failure rate is about 0.5%. Progestin injection can also be given every three months and in this case, the failure rate is 6%. Combined oral contraceptives that contain estrogen and progestin can be taken by women. The failure rate may be as high as 9%. Progestin pills, with a failure rate of 9%, are available over the counter and can be taken once a day. A patch may be placed in the lower abdomen or the lower back of the upper body that releases progestin and estrogen into the bloodstream. The patch has to be changed every three weeks and its failure rate is 9%.

Emergency contraception may be used in case birth control method was not used during sex, or if a certain contraception method failed

Barrier methods:

• A cervical cap is placed inside the vagina to block the sperm. This is in the shape of a hollow cup. These are available in varied sizes, though it has shown to be not effective in 12% of the cases.
• A male condom can stop the sperm from entering a woman’s body. This is useful to prevent diseases that spread through body fluids, like HIV and STDs.
• A female condom prevents sperm from entering the body. This can be inserted up to eight hours before sexual intercourse.
• Spermicides are available in the form of gel, foam, cream, suppositories, and tablets. This is placed inside the vagina. This can be used along with a diaphragm, male condom, or cervical cap.

Permanent birth control methods:

• Sterilization for women is a permanent birth control method that is also known as ‘tying the tubes’. This procedure requires hospitalization and the woman may get discharged the same day.
• Transcervical sterilization is where a tiny device is placed into each fallopian tube that causes irritation and develops scar tissues plugging the tubes.
• Vasectomy is an operation performed on males that prevents the sperm from reaching the penis. So there is no sperm in the discharge when an ejaculation occurs. This is an outpatient surgical procedure. Studies show that failures can occur and CDC research informs that there are 11 failures per 1000 cases.

According to a study by the US Collaborative Review of Sterilization (CREST) younger women who have undergone the contraceptive sterilization experience seem to regret the procedure. CDC also found out that women do not regret vasectomies that are performed on their male partners.

Despite various birth control methods being practiced none of these methods are 100% fail-safe.