FDA Birth Control Chart Instructions
- June 29, 2024
- FDA
Table of Contents
FDA Birth Control Chart
Product Information
Specifications
- Product Name: Birth Control Guide (Chart)
- Website: www.fda.gov/birthcontrol
- Purpose: Provides high-level information about different birth control options for educational purposes
- Disclaimer: Not a complete list of all available birth control options; consult healthcare provider for personalized advice
Product Usage Instructions
Birth Control Methods
The birth control chart lists various birth control methods which include:
- Sterilization surgery for women
- Sterilization surgery for men (vasectomy)
- IUD/IUS without hormone (copper) or with hormone (progestin)
- Implantable rod
- Contraceptive injection/shot
- Oral contraceptives – combined pill, extended/continuous use combined pill, mini pill (progestin only)
- Patch (transdermal system)
- Vaginal contraceptive ring/system
- Software application for contraception
- Male condom
- Diaphragm with spermicide
- Sponge with spermicide
- Cervical cap with spermicide
- Internal (female) condom
- Anti-sperm vaginal contraceptives
Emergency Contraceptives (EC)
Emergency contraceptives can be used in case of unprotected intercourse or
contraceptive failure:
- Levonorgestrel 1.5 mg (1 pill)
- Ulipristal acetate
FAQs
-
Q: Can emergency contraceptives be used as regular birth control?
A: No, emergency contraceptives should not be used as a regular form of birth control. They are intended for emergency situations only. -
Q: How effective are the different birth control methods listed?
A: The effectiveness varies for each method. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized information based on your health and needs.
BIRTH CONTROL GUIDE
This birth control chart provides high-level information about different birth control options. It is meant for educational purposes for the general public. This chart is not meant to be a complete list of all available birth control options. Talk with your health care provider about the best birth control choice for you.
If you do not want to get pregnant, you can choose from many birth control options. No one product is best for everyone. Some types of birth control are better than others at preventing pregnancy. Check the pregnancy rates on this chart to get an idea of how effective a method is at preventing pregnancy. The pregnancy rates on this chart tell you the number of pregnancies expected during the first year of use for each 100 women who use that method. These rates can help you understand how effective the different methods are during actual use (including sometimes using a method in a way that is not correct or not consistent). The chart also provides some of the risks or side effects associated with each type of birth control to help you determine which option may be best for you. The only sure way to avoid pregnancy is to not have sex.
Emergency Contraceptives (EC): May be used if you did not use birth control or if your regular birth control fails (such as a condom breaks). It should not be used as a regular form of birth control.
- Consumers should be aware that FDA approves, clears, and grants marketing authorization for individual contraceptive products, not “methods.” However, for purposes of this chart, which includes birth control options broader than products, we use the term “methods.”
- Data is drawn from Bradley SEK, et al., Effectiveness, safety, and comparative side effects. In: Cason P, Cwiak C, Edelman A, et al. [Eds.] Contraceptive Technology. 22nd edition. Burlington, MA: Jones-Bartlett Learning, 2023; in instances where clinical trial data described in FDA-required labeling showed higher pregnancy rates, that information is also provided. For more information on the chance of getting pregnant while using a certain product (medicine or device), please check the product label or consult your healthcare provider.
- Refer to the Prescribing Information or instructions for use for a specific product or ask your health care provider for specific instructions for use.
- The risks and side effects are listed in alphabetical order; the information on this chart does not include all the risks and benefits for each method.
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