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How effective is the birth control pill?

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Written by Jennifer Gray

Jennifer Gray

Jennifer Gray is an award-winning writer with more than five years’ experience covering reproductive topics ranging from birth control to planning pregnancy. She is passionate about providing women with accurate information grounded in science they can use to take charge of their own health - while also dispelling myths that exist within the field of women’s health. She holds a Master of Science from the University of Edinburgh and currently lives in Ireland.

Medically reviewed by Jack Pearson, Medical Affairs Manager at Natural Cycles

Jack Pearson

Dr. Jack Pearson is a previously HCPC registered Embryologist with a PhD in reproductive medicine. Prior to joining Natural Cycles leading Medical Affairs, he worked for more than 10 years in a clinical setting working at some of the busiest fertility clinics in the UK. Today he spends most of his time working with experts at the world’s leading institutions to carry out important research with the vision to further the field of female health. He earned his PhD from the University of Sheffield specializing in Sperm Metabolism and currently lives in London.

  • Birth control pills are 93% effective with typical use and >99% effective with perfect use
  • Several things can impact the effectiveness of the pill, including missing a pill, taking a pill late, vomiting or diarrhea, or taking certain medications
  • To get the most out of your birth control, it’s important to choose a method that fits your lifestyle and that you can reliably use

There are two types of commonly prescribed oral contraceptives: the combination birth control pill and the progestin-only pill. Both types of pills are 93% effective with typical use and more than 99% effective with perfect use. In this article, we’re going to dive deeper into what typical and perfect use means as we cover what makes birth control less effective, how you can better protect yourself from unintended pregnancy, and why knowing your contraceptive options is so important.

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