Have the best sex, worry free.
‘Contraception’ refers to the methods that prevent someone getting pregnant. Contraceptives like condoms also protect against STIs.
Contraceptives can also be used to treat other conditions like endometriosis or Acne.
Each body is different which means some contraceptives make work wonders for some but not for others. Its about finding out the one that works for you – which can take time.
I think you know the answer.
Without taking up too much of your time, the short story is that it is possible to get pregnant from pre-cum. But let's go through some more of the specifics.
The sex education you never got.
Types of Contraception
How Does Fertility Tracking Work? Fertility awareness/tracking or also known as natural family planning is when the vulva wonder tracks when their most fertile time is of their period and avoids h...
How Does Emergency Contraception Work? If you’ve had unprotected sex or your contraceptive has failed, emergency contraception can help stop pregnancy within 5 days. There are two types of ...
How Do Diaphragms & Caps Work? The Diaphragm is a dome-shaped piece of latex or silicone that goes into the vagina and over the cervix. The Cap is a smaller version that needs to be put...
How Does The Patch Work? The patch is a small plaster-looking material that can be stuck to your upper arm, shoulder or bum but shouldn’t be applied to breasts or broken skin. Like the combined pi...
How Do Contraceptive Pills Work? The Combined Pill The Combines Pill, often referred to as just ‘the pill’ is a type of contraceptive that contains a combination of hormones – progestogen & oe...
Penis Condoms Condoms for penises are made of very thin latex (you can get non-latex ones) that cover the penis to stop semen from entering the vagina and help reduce the spread of most STIs. Che...
How reliable is your contraception?
Here you can find out just how effective your contraception is from pregnancy and STIs. Did you get yours right?
'Perfect Use' vs 'Normal Use'
All the methods are listed here will show contraceptive effectiveness for when used 'perfectly' and when used 'typically'.
Perfect Use.
This is when the contraceptive method is used 100% correctly as stated on the box.
Typical Use.
We are humans so we are bound to make some errors which is why we need to account for this in the stats. For example, missing a pill, or being sick on the pill or getting the injection later than you need to.
Some methods do not have typical use rates because they have no user failure (like the coil).
Where are these stats sourced from?
These stats are sourced from the NHS website.
How reliable are Condoms?
Penis Condoms
Perfect use: 98% effective. 2 in 100 will get pregnant in a year.
Typical use: around 82% effective. Around 18 in 100 will get pregnant in a year.
Vaginal Condoms
Perfect use: 95% effective. 5 in 100 who use a female condom will get pregnant in a year.
Typical use: around 79% effective. Around 21 in 100 will get pregnant in a year.
How reliable is the Combined Pill?
Perfect use: more than 99% effective. Fewer than 1 in 100 will get pregnant in a year when using the combined pill correctly.
Typical use: around 91% effective. Around 9 in 100 using the combined pill will get pregnant in a year.
How reliable is the Progesterone-Only Pill?
Perfect use: 99% effective. Around 1 in 100 will get pregnant in a year when using the progestogen-only pill correctly.
Typical use: around 91% effective. Around 9 in 100 will get pregnant in a year.
How reliable is the Implant?
More than 99% effective with perfect use.
They work for 3 years, but can be taken out earlier. Fewer than 1 in 100 using the implant will get pregnant in a year.
How reliable is the IUD (non-hormonal)
More than 99% effective.
Fewer than 1 in 100 women will get pregnant in a year, depending on the type of IUD. Older types are less effective.
How reliablie is the IUS (hormonal)
more than 99% effective.
Fewer than 1 in 100 women will get pregnant when using an IUS.
How reliable is the Injection
Perfect use: more than 99% effective. Fewer than 1 in 100 will get pregnant in a year when using contraceptive injections regularly.
Typical use: around 94% effective. Around 6 in 100 will get pregnant in a year.
How reliable is the Patch
Perfect use: more than 99% effective. Fewer than 1 in 100 will get pregnant in a year when using the contraceptive patch correctly.
Typical use: around 91% effective. Around 9 in 100 who use the patch will get pregnant in a year.
How reliable are Diaphragms & Caps?
Perfect use: 92 to 96% effective. Between 4 and 8 in 100 who use a diaphragm or cap with spermicide will get pregnant in a year.
Typical use: around 71 to 88% effective. Between 12 and 29 in 100 using a diaphragm or cap will get pregnant in a year.
How reliable is Sterilisation?
Female sterilisation: more than 99% effective. Around 1 in 200 will become pregnant in their lifetime after being sterilised.
Male sterilisation or vasectomy: around 1 in 2,000 can become fertile again in their lifetime after a vasectomy.
How reliable is Fertility Tracking?
Perfect use: can be up to 99% effective if the natural family planning methods are followed precisely. These include monitoring cervical secretions and your basal body temperature. It's more effective if more than 1 method is used and it's taught by specialist teachers. Up to 1 in 100 will get pregnant in a year when using this method perfectly.
Typical use: around 76% effective. Around 24 in 100 using natural family planning will get pregnant in a year.
How reliable is Withdrawal (pull-out method)?
On average, using Withdrawal (pull out method), 27 in 100 will get pregnant each year.
Want to see what real people think of the different contraceptive methods?
The world's first contraception review platform. Search and filter thousands of real-life reviews, speak to our in-house GP or order your pill prescription.
FIND THE ONE FOR YOUWhere Can I Get An STI Test?
Its super important to get regular testing for STIs, but it can sometimes be confusing where to get these tests.
This abortion healthcare resource is brought to you by Danielle Danielle Bezalel MPH (Sex Ed with DB) & Reproductive Health Lawyer, Cathren Cohen.
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