Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Pregnancy WorksFertile DaysTypes of Birth ControlReasons for FailureAm I Pregnant?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How Pregnancy Works
Fertile Days
Types of Birth Control
Reasons for Failure
Am I Pregnant?
Although manybirth control methodsare highlyeffective, you can still get pregnant while using them. Studies suggest that around half of allunintended pregnancieshappen whenbirth controlis used.
While it is possible that the failure may be product-related, certain behaviors can undermine the effectiveness of birth control, including the inconsistent use of hormonal contraceptives or the improper use of condoms.
Education can help overcome these concerns. This not only includes learning how to use birth control correctly but also having a greater understanding of pregnancy and contraception—such as when ovulation occurs and how long sperm can live inside the vagina after sex.
This article offers essentials on the risk of pregnancy, the effectiveness of different birth control methods, and the 20 most common reasons for failure.
Yuri Arcurs / Collection: E+ / Getty Images
Gender DefinitionsFor the purpose of this article, “male” refers to people born with penises, and “female” refers to people with vaginas irrespective of whether they identify asone or several gendersorno gender at all.
Gender Definitions
For the purpose of this article, “male” refers to people born with penises, and “female” refers to people with vaginas irrespective of whether they identify asone or several gendersorno gender at all.
However, it may take another five to seven days for apregnancy testto return a positive result.
When Can Conception Occur?
During the average menstrual cycle, there are seven days when an egg is able to be fertilized. This “fertile window” consists of five days before ovulation, the day of ovulation, and the day after.
Timing when ovulation will occur can be tricky since it doesn’t always happen at the same time every month. Research suggests that people who consistently have periods every 26 to 32 days are most likely to conceive from days 8 to 19. That is a time span of 10 days.
The expanded period is due to the fact that sperm can live inside the female body for up to five days.So even if you do not ovulate for another four days after sex, sperm could still be living inside you that can fertilize an egg.
When Are You the Most Fertile?
There are hormonal and non-hormonal birth control methods that can prevent pregnancy, some of which can be used in combination.
Hormonal birth control methods are those that interfere with the menstrual cycle and ovulation. These generally need to be used consistently on an ongoing basis.
Non-hormonal methods involve barrier devices or sexual practices that prevent sperm from reaching the egg. Many barrier methods can be used on demand.
HormonalThe pillMinipillOpill (norgestrel)NuvaRingHormonal IUDsContraceptive patchNexplanon implantDepo-ProveraMorning-after pillNon-HormonalAbstinenceOutercourseWithdrawal methodRhythm methodExternal condomInternal condomSpermicideCervical diaphragmCervical spongeCopper IUDBarrier gel
HormonalThe pillMinipillOpill (norgestrel)NuvaRingHormonal IUDsContraceptive patchNexplanon implantDepo-ProveraMorning-after pill
The pill
Minipill
Opill (norgestrel)
NuvaRing
Hormonal IUDs
Contraceptive patch
Nexplanon implant
Depo-Provera
Morning-after pill
Non-HormonalAbstinenceOutercourseWithdrawal methodRhythm methodExternal condomInternal condomSpermicideCervical diaphragmCervical spongeCopper IUDBarrier gel
Abstinence
Outercourse
Withdrawal method
Rhythm method
External condom
Internal condom
Spermicide
Cervical diaphragm
Cervical sponge
Copper IUD
Barrier gel
What Is the Most Effective Birth Control?
20 Reasons Why Birth Control Fails
There are many reasons why birth control fails. The main reason is user error.
The top 20 causes of birth control failure include:
Using alcohol and drugs can also affect your judgment and cause you to use birth control incorrectly or not at all.
What Is the Failure Rate of Birth Control?
Did My Birth Control Fail?
Thinking that you may have gotten pregnant while on birth control—and do not want to be—can be stressful. While there are many reasons why you may havemissed your period, the most common cause is pregnancy.
The only way to know for sure if you’re pregnant is to get apregnancy test. Even so, you need to test at the right time and not too early.
Because it can take a minimum of six days for your body to produce enoughhuman chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)to register an accurate result, testing too early can lead to a false negative result.
Studies indicate that most pregnancy tests will provide accurate results if you take the pregnancy test one week after your missed period.
If you have had condomless sex, or know that your birth control failed within the last five days,emergency contraceptionmay still be able to prevent unintended pregnancy.
What Are the Chances of Getting Pregnant on Birth Control?
Summary
It is possible to get pregnant on birth control. Most birth control failures are the result of user error, whether it is using birth control incorrectly or using it inconsistently. This is true for both hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives. Correcting these errors can better ensure you avoid pregnancy.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Guttmacher Institute.Unintended Pregnancy in the United States.Su RW, Fazleabas AT.Implantation and establishment of pregnancy in human and nonhuman primates.Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol. 2015;216:189-213. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-15856-3_10Gnoth C, Johnson S.Strips of hope: accuracy of home pregnancy tests and new developments.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.2014;74(7):661-669. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1368589Sakkas D, Ramalingam M, Garrido N, Barratt CL.Sperm selection in natural conception: what can we learn from Mother Nature to improve assisted reproduction outcomes?Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(6):711-726. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmv042Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception: how effective are birth control methods?American Pregnancy Association.Birth control failure.American Pregnancy Association.hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin): the pregnancy hormone.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Guttmacher Institute.Unintended Pregnancy in the United States.Su RW, Fazleabas AT.Implantation and establishment of pregnancy in human and nonhuman primates.Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol. 2015;216:189-213. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-15856-3_10Gnoth C, Johnson S.Strips of hope: accuracy of home pregnancy tests and new developments.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.2014;74(7):661-669. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1368589Sakkas D, Ramalingam M, Garrido N, Barratt CL.Sperm selection in natural conception: what can we learn from Mother Nature to improve assisted reproduction outcomes?Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(6):711-726. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmv042Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception: how effective are birth control methods?American Pregnancy Association.Birth control failure.American Pregnancy Association.hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin): the pregnancy hormone.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Guttmacher Institute.Unintended Pregnancy in the United States.Su RW, Fazleabas AT.Implantation and establishment of pregnancy in human and nonhuman primates.Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol. 2015;216:189-213. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-15856-3_10Gnoth C, Johnson S.Strips of hope: accuracy of home pregnancy tests and new developments.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.2014;74(7):661-669. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1368589Sakkas D, Ramalingam M, Garrido N, Barratt CL.Sperm selection in natural conception: what can we learn from Mother Nature to improve assisted reproduction outcomes?Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(6):711-726. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmv042Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception: how effective are birth control methods?American Pregnancy Association.Birth control failure.American Pregnancy Association.hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin): the pregnancy hormone.
Guttmacher Institute.Unintended Pregnancy in the United States.
Su RW, Fazleabas AT.Implantation and establishment of pregnancy in human and nonhuman primates.Adv Anat Embryol Cell Biol. 2015;216:189-213. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-15856-3_10
Gnoth C, Johnson S.Strips of hope: accuracy of home pregnancy tests and new developments.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.2014;74(7):661-669. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1368589
Sakkas D, Ramalingam M, Garrido N, Barratt CL.Sperm selection in natural conception: what can we learn from Mother Nature to improve assisted reproduction outcomes?Hum Reprod Update. 2015;21(6):711-726. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmv042
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Contraception: how effective are birth control methods?
American Pregnancy Association.Birth control failure.
American Pregnancy Association.hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin): the pregnancy hormone.
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