Types of Birth Control |15 Contraceptive Methods Explained

Choosing a birth control method feels overwhelming. There are 15 different options.

Each one works differently, costs differently, and fits a different lifestyle.

If you're searching for the best birth control or the most effective contraceptive, the right answer depends on what matters most to you: effectiveness, safety, hormones, or STI protection.

Here's the good news: you don't need to understand all 15 in depth. You just need to find the 1 or 2 that fit your body and your life.

This guide breaks down every method: pills, coils, implants, barrier methods, natural options grouped by how effective they actually are. Not alphabetically. Not randomly. By what matters most: does it work? Whether you want the best contraceptive method for your situation or simply a list of good contraceptive methods to compare, this is the place to start. Let's get into it.

Birth Control Methods

Most effective (99%+) : Hormonal coil (IUS), copper coil (IUD), contraceptive implant, female sterilisation

Highly effective with typical use (91–96%): Combined pill, mini pill, patch, vaginal ring, contraceptive injection

Best for STI protection: Internal (female) condom the only method on this list that protects against STIs

Best hormone-free option: Copper coil (IUD)

Least effective: Fertility awareness methods (natural family planning)

Full breakdown of all 15 methods below. If you'd rather skip ahead and talk it through, family planning consultations cover all of this in person.

Also Read : How do Implants Work

Most Effective Birth Control Methods (Over 99% Effective)

These 4 methods share one thing in common: they don't rely on you remembering anything.

No daily pill. No weekly patch. Just fit-and-forget protection. That's exactly why they're the most effective methods available.

So if you're asking which is the most effective birth control, these four are the answer. They also offer the most effective contraception for anyone who wants long-term, low-maintenance protection.

Hormonal Coil (IUS)

Hormonal coil (IUS) shown with the GP Care Contraception Specialist logo.

A small T-shaped device your doctor fits inside your womb as part of a hormonal coil fitting.

It releases a steady, low dose of progestogen.

Best for: Women who want long-term protection and lighter periods. For many women, periods become much lighter or stop completely.

Not ideal for: Women uncomfortable with an internal fitting procedure, or those wanting to avoid hormones entirely.

Side effects: Irregular bleeding or spotting in the first few months. This usually settles down.

Reversibility: Fertility returns quickly once removed.

STI protection: None.

Lasts: 3 to 8 years, depending on the type.

Also Read: Who Can Use the Contraceptive Implant? 

Copper Coil (IUD)

Copper coil (IUD) contraception infographic showing its benefits, side effects, reversibility, and 5–10 year duration.

Same idea as the IUS. Different mechanisms. The copper coil contains no hormones at all.

It works by creating an environment that's toxic to sperm. Among non-hormonal choices, it is widely seen as the best anti contraceptive option for women who want to avoid hormones.

Best for: Women who want maximum effectiveness without touching their hormones.

Not ideal for: Women with heavy or painful periods. The copper coil can make both worse.

Side effects: Heavier, longer, or more painful periods, especially in the first few months.

Reversibility: Immediate. Fertility returns as soon as it's removed.

STI protection: None.

Lasts: 5 to 10 years. A copper coil fitting is a straightforward, same-day appointment.

Contraceptive Implant

Contraceptive implant infographic showing benefits, side effects, reversibility, STI protection, and 3-year duration.

A small flexible rod. Inserted under the skin of your upper arm. Takes less than a minute to fit.

Best for: Women who forget daily pills, are breastfeeding, or can't take oestrogen.

Not ideal for: Women who want predictable periods. Cycles can become irregular, lighter, heavier, or stop altogether.

Side effects: Bruising or tenderness at the insertion site initially.

Reversibility: Fertility returns very quickly after removal.

STI protection: None.

Lasts: Up to 3 years. Full details on implant insertion and removal are worth a read if this one's on your shortlist. Curious whether it's right for you specifically?

Also Read: What Is the Coil Contraception

Female Sterilisation

A permanent procedure. Your tubes are blocked, sealed, or removed. This one's different from the other three: it's not meant to be reversed.

Best for: Women who are certain they don't want children in the future.

Not ideal for: Anyone with any uncertainty about future pregnancy. Reversal isn't guaranteed to work.

Side effects: Standard surgical risks. This is a minor operation, usually under general anaesthetic.

Reversibility: Considered permanent.

STI protection: None.

Hormonal Birth Control Pill Options

Not ready for a coil or implant? Fair enough. Here's the rundown on daily, weekly, and monthly hormonal options.

If you're looking for the best contraceptive pill, there isn't one that suits everyone. The combined pill works well for many women, while the mini pill is often the best choice if you can't take oestrogen.

Combined Pill

Hormonal birth control pill infographic explaining the combined pill, benefits, side effects, effectiveness, and STI protection.

Contains two hormones: oestrogen and progestogen. Taken once a day, with a break most months.

Best for: Women who want lighter, more regular, less painful periods alongside contraception.

Not ideal for: Smokers over 35, or women with a history of blood clots or migraines with aura.

Side effects: Mood changes, headaches, nausea in the first few months.

Effectiveness: Over 99% with perfect use. Around 91% with typical use.

STI protection: None.

Also Read : What Is Family Planning

Progestogen-Only Pill (Mini Pill)

Progestogen-only mini pill infographic showing benefits, side effects, effectiveness, and STI protection.

One hormone. No oestrogen. Taken daily, at the same time, with no break.

Best for: Women who can't take oestrogen including those who smoke, breastfeed, or have migraines with aura.

Not ideal for: Women who struggle with strict daily timing. Some versions need to be taken within a 3-hour window.

Side effects: Irregular bleeding, spotting.

Effectiveness: Over 99% with perfect use. Around 91% with typical use.

STI protection: None.

Contraceptive Patch

Contraceptive patch applied to a woman’s upper arm with a weekly use infographic.

A sticky patch. Worn on the skin. Changed weekly for 3 weeks, then a patch-free week.

Best for: Women who want pill-level effectiveness without a daily routine.

Not ideal for: Women with skin sensitivities, or the same risk factors that rule out the combined pill.

Side effects: Skin irritation at the patch site, breast tenderness.

Effectiveness: Over 99% with perfect use. Around 91% with typical use.

STI protection: None.

Vaginal Ring

Vaginal ring contraceptive with a monthly 3-weeks-in, 1-week-out routine.

A small, soft ring. Inserted into the vagina. Left in place for 3 weeks, removed for 1.

Best for: Women who want a monthly routine instead of a daily or weekly one.

Not ideal for: Women uncomfortable with vaginal insertion, or those with the combined-hormone risk factors above.

Side effects: Vaginal irritation, increased discharge.

Effectiveness: Over 99% with perfect use. Around 91% with typical use.

STI protection: None.

Contraceptive Injection

Contraceptive injection administered in the upper arm with an 8–13 week schedule infographic.

A shot of progestogen. Given every 8 to 13 weeks.

Best for: Women who want a "set and forget" option without a long-term device.

Not ideal for: Women planning to conceive soon after stopping — fertility can take up to a year to return.

Side effects: Weight gain is more commonly reported with this method than others. Delayed return to fertility.

Effectiveness: Over 99% with perfect use. Around 94% with typical use.

STI protection: None.

Also Read : Contraception Options

Barrier Methods (Best for STI Protection)

Every method above has one thing in common: none of them protect against STIs.

This section is different. If protection from infection is your priority, barrier methods are the safest contraceptive choice for STI safety.

Internal (Female) Condom

Internal condom providing pregnancy and STI protection with correct-use guidance.

Worn inside the vagina before sex. The only method on this entire list that protects against both pregnancy and STIs, alongside external condoms.

Best for: Women who want STI protection control themselves.

Not ideal for: Couples who want a "set and forget" method that needs to be used correctly every single time.

Effectiveness: Around 95% with perfect use. Roughly 79% with typical use.

STI protection: Yes.

Diaphragm

A small, flexible cup. Inserted before sex, removed after. Fitted by a healthcare provider, used with spermicide.

A small, flexible cup. Inserted before sex, removed after. Fitted by a healthcare provider, used with spermicide.

Best for: Women who want a hormone-free, non-permanent barrier option.

Not ideal for: Women wanting high effectiveness on its own it works best combined with spermicide.

Effectiveness: Up to 94% with spermicide, with correct use. Lower with typical use.

STI protection: No.

Cervical Cap

Cervical cap contraception infographic showing a cap fitted over the cervix, with key information on effectiveness, suitability, and STI protection.

A thimble-shaped cap. Fits over the cervix. Smaller than a diaphragm, also fitted by a provider.

Best for: Women who've had a fitting and want a reusable, hormone-free barrier method.

Not ideal for: Women who've given birth vaginally effectiveness drops noticeably in this group.

Effectiveness: Up to 92% with correct use (nulliparous women). Lower for women who've given birth.

STI protection: No.

Spermicide

Spermicide contraception infographic showing vaginal spermicide gel and applicator, with information on use, effectiveness, and lack of STI protection.

A gel, cream, or foam. Inserted into the vagina before sex. The key point here: spermicide is rarely used alone.

Best for: Boosting the effectiveness of a diaphragm, cap, or condom.

Not ideal for: Sole use on its own, it's one of the least effective methods on this list.

Effectiveness: Around 72% with typical use when used alone.

STI protection: No.

Also Read : 5 False Facts About The Coil

Natural and Emergency Contraception

Fertility Awareness Methods (Natural Family Planning)

Fertility awareness methods infographic showing cycle tracking, basal body temperature, and cervical mucus monitoring, with information on effectiveness and lack of STI protection.

No hormones. No devices. No procedures. Just tracking your body: cycle length, basal body temperature, and cervical mucus changes.

Best for: Women who want a completely hormone-free method and are comfortable with a hands-on, daily commitment.

Not ideal for: Women with irregular cycles, or anyone who isn't consistent about daily tracking.

Effectiveness: Up to 99% with perfect, combined-method use. Typical use is significantly lower — around 76–88%.

STI protection: No.

Emergency Contraception

Your backup plan if your usual method fails or you didn't use one. Two options: the morning-after pill, or a copper coil fitted within 5 days. The copper coil is the more effective option over 99% effective, and it converts to your ongoing contraception if you keep it in.

Morning-after pill: Most effective the sooner it's taken. One version works up to 72 hours after sex, another up to 120 hours. Full details on the morning after pill including how to access it same-day.

Best Birth Control for Women by Goal and Life Stage

Still not sure which method fits? Here's the fast version.

There is no single best birth control method for everyone. The best method of contraception is the one that suits your health, your lifestyle, and your plans, and the list below shows the best contraceptive for women at different stages and goals.

Best for maximum effectiveness: Hormonal coil (IUS), copper coil (IUD), or the implant.

Best hormone-free option: Copper coil (IUD).

Best for STI protection: Internal condom (or external condoms, used alongside any method above).

Best after having a baby: The mini pill, implant, or IUS all safe while breastfeeding.

Best over 40: The hormonal coil (IUS) is often recommended; it protects against pregnancy and can manage heavy perimenopausal bleeding at the same time.

Best for managing periods or acne: The combined pill is frequently prescribed for both.

Safest birth control options: Every method has its own risks and benefits, so safety depends on your health history. The implant, IUS, copper coil, and mini pill are generally considered among the safest birth control options for women who can't take oestrogen, and a clinician can confirm what is safest for you.

Best form of contraception if you forget pills: The implant, IUS, or copper coil, because there is nothing to remember day to day.

How Effective Is Birth Control? Perfect Use vs Typical Use

You'll see two numbers for almost every method on this page. Here's why. Perfect use means the method was used exactly as instructed, every single time. Typical use means real life missed pills, late injections, inconsistent tracking.

The gap between the two numbers tells you how forgiving a method is. LARC methods (coils, implant) have almost no gap perfect use and typical use are nearly identical, because there's nothing to remember day-to-day. Pills, patches, and rings have a bigger gap, because they depend on you.

Frequently Asked Questions

More questions? Browse the full contraception FAQ page.

What are the different forms of birth control available?

There are 15 main methods, grouped into hormonal pills and devices, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), barrier methods, permanent sterilisation, natural family planning, and emergency contraception.

What is the most effective contraceptive method?

The hormonal coil (IUS), copper coil (IUD), contraceptive implant, and female sterilisation are all over 99% effective, because none of them rely on daily action.

What is the most effective contraceptive?

The most effective contraceptive options are the hormonal coil (IUS), copper coil (IUD), implant, and female sterilisation. They work without daily effort, so real-life results match perfect-use results.

What is the best contraceptive pill?

It depends on your health. The combined pill is the most commonly prescribed, while the mini pill is usually the best contraceptive pill for women who can't take oestrogen.

What is the safest contraceptive?

Safety depends on your medical history. For STI safety, condoms are the safest contraceptive choice. For pregnancy prevention, the IUS, copper coil, implant, and mini pill are generally well tolerated. A specialist can confirm which is safest for you.

What birth control pill options are best for beginners?

The combined pill is the most commonly prescribed starting option. Women who can't take oestrogen usually start with the progestogen-only pill instead.

What kinds of birth control methods don't use hormones?

The copper coil (IUD), diaphragm, cervical cap, condoms, spermicide, and fertility awareness methods are all hormone-free.

How do I know which type of birth control is best for me?

It depends on your health history, lifestyle, and goals effectiveness, hormone tolerance, STI protection, and how much daily effort you want to put in. A consultation is the fastest way to narrow it down.

Which is the best form of contraception for women?

There is no single best form of contraception for every woman. The best contraceptive for women who want long-term, low-maintenance protection is usually a LARC method (IUS, copper coil, or implant), while those who want STI protection should use condoms.

When to See a Contraception Specialist

Reading about 15 methods is one thing. Knowing which one fits your body is another.

A specialist consultation can help you:

• Rule out methods that conflict with your health history

• Compare options side by side for your specific situation

• Get fitted for a coil or implant on the same visit, in many cases
  

Get in touch to book your consultation.