Check the comparison chart to see how much birth control methods cost and how effective they are. Remember that effectiveness increases if you combine methods, for example, by using a condom and the pill. Please note that all costs are approximate and all rates for effectiveness are for typical use.

Method	Typical User Failure Rates: # of women out of 100 that may become pregnant during the first year of use	Average Cost
Fertility awareness	20	No cost
Male condom	12	$.50 - $3.00 each use
Female condom	21	$.50 - $3.00 each use
Diaphragm	18	$100 - $200 for method & fitting
Cervical cap	Out of 100 women using the cap, the number who may become pregnant within the first year, who have never given birth vaginally 18; of women who have given birth vaginally, 36	$100 - $200 for method & fitting
Spermicides	21	$.50 - $3.00 each use
Transdermal contraceptive patch	1 person out of 100 will get pregnant if the patch is used exactly according to the directions. Because this method is relatively new in the US, we do not know the "typical use" rates.	$25 - 30 month
Implants	Maybe 1 person and probably no one out of that group of 100 women will become pregnant. (To be more exact, if 10,000 women are using Norplant, only 9 may become pregnant within the first year.)	$450 - $750 for five years
Injectables	Maybe 1 person and probably no one out of that group of 100 women will become pregnant. (To be more exact, if 1000 women are using the shot, only three may become pregnant within the first year.)	$60 - $75 for three months
IUDs	0.8%: Copper T IUD maybe one person, and probably no one out of that group of 100 women, will become pregnant. (To be more exact, if there are 1000 typical users, only 8 women may become pregnant when using the IUD in the first year.)	Paraguard IUD: $430 for up to ten years
IUSs	Mirena IUS, maybe 1 person, and probably no one out of that group of 100 women, will become pregnant. (To be more exact, if there are 1000 typical users, only 8 women may become pregnant when using the IUD in the first year.)	Mirena IUS: $395 for five years
Combined pills	3	$20 - 35 month
Progestin only pills	3	$20 - 35 month
Sterilization	Maybe 1 person and probably no one out of that group of 100 will become pregnant. (To be more exact, if 1000 women are sterilized, 4 may become pregnant in the first year.)	$1,200 for females
Vaginal ring	1 person out of 100 will become pregnant if the Vaginal Ring is used exactly according to directions. Because this method is relatively new in the US, we do not know the "typical use" rates.	$35 - $40 for method
Vasectomy	Maybe 1 person and probably no one out of that group of 100 will cause a woman to become pregnant. (To be more exact, if 1000 men have a vasectomy, between 1 and 2 may cause a woman to become pregnant in the first year.)	$250 - $400 for males*

* These are public sector figures. In the private sector, cost increases significantly.