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How safe are these methods?

These are some of the safest forms of birth control. All are safer than pregnancy. This is true even for people with diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or who need medication.

 

  1. General safety
  2. Who shouldn't use these methods?

General Safety

– icon for tubal sterilization, a uterus with dotted red lines showing how the tubes would be cut or blocked

Tubal Sterilization Surgery
  • 3 out of every 100 patients develop an infection
  • One out of every 100 patients has breathing problems from the anesthesia
  • Prior abdominal surgery increases surgical risks

icon for a hormonal IUD, a white T-shaped object, a little less than an inch and a half tall

Hormonal IUD
  • One out of every 1000 patients develop an infection
  • No breathing problems
  • One out of every 1000 patients has uterine perforation (a small hole poked in the wall of the uterus when the IUD is placed)

icon for a non hormonal IUD, a metal T-shaped object wrapped in copper, a little less than an inch and a half tall

Non-hormonal (Copper) IUD
  • One out of every 1000 patients develop an infection
  • No breathing problems
  • One out of every 1000 patients has uterine perforation (a small hole poked in the wall of the uterus when the IUD is placed)

icon for the arm implant, a bent arm showing where the small rod-shaped implant would be in the inner upper arm

Arm Implant
  • One out of every 1000 patients develop an infection
  • No breathing problems

icon for a vasectomy, showing a group of sperm with a red crossed-out circle over it

Vasectomy
  • One out of every 100 patients develop an infection
  • No breathing problems

 

Who shouldn't use these methods?

icon for tubal sterilization, a uterus with dotted red lines showing how the tubes would be cut or blockedTubal Sterilization Surgery

May not be right for people who:

  • are in relationships that might change or people who might want to get pregnant in the future. Tubal sterilization is not easily reversible.
  • People who have had previous abdominal surgery, including a C-section
  • People who do not want general anesthesia 
  • People who have medical problems that would complicate surgery

Hormonal IUDicon for a hormonal IUD, a white T-shaped object, a little less than an inch and a half tall

May not be right for people who:

  • have trouble with pelvic exams
  • prefer to have regular periods

Non-hormonal (Copper)IUD

icon for a non-hormonal IUD, a metal T-shaped object wrapped in copper, a little less than an inch and a half tall

May not be right for people who:

  • have trouble with pelvic exams
  • have heavy or crampy periods
  • have anemia

Arm Implanticon for the arm implant, a bent arm showing where the small rod-shaped implant would be in the inner upper arm

May not be right for people who:

  • have had breast cancer
  • prefer to have regular periods

icon for a vasectomy, showing a group of sperm with a red crossed-out circle over itVasectomy

May not be right for people who:

  • are in relationships that might change or people who might want to get pregnant in the future. Vasectomies are not easily reversible.
  • have multiple male partners

 

 

The only one who knows what birth control is best for you is YOU

 

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