Sexual Health Birth Control When Birth Control Fails Preventing Birth Control Failure By Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC twitter linkedin Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC, is a published author, college professor, and mental health consultant with over 15 years of counseling experience. Learn about our editorial process Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Elizabeth Molina Ortiz, MD, MPH on October 08, 2020 linkedin Elizabeth I. Molina Ortiz, MD, is board-certified in family medicine. She is a primary care provider with Atrius Health in Boston and was the medical director of Charles River Community Health. Learn about our Medical Review Board Elizabeth Molina Ortiz, MD, MPH on October 08, 2020 Print With the exception of abstinence, no method of birth control is perfect. Unintended pregnancies may occur while a couple is using birth control. Why? The main reason is that whatever the method, it isn't being used correctly. If you are sexually active but not ready to start a family, here are some important things to know about birth control failure and how to prevent it. Defining Effectiveness Rates Sam Edwards / Getty Images The effectiveness rates of birth control methods usually are described as either "typical user rates" or "perfect use rates." Perfect use rates refer to how effective a particular contraceptive or birth control method would be if it was used consistently and correctly a hundred percent of the time. Only a handful of methods have the potential to fall into the perfect use category. These include permanent sterilization (tubal ligation and vasectomy), Depo Provera, Nexplanon (birth control implant), and the IUD. Typical use describes how the average person handles birth control, taking into consideration that it's subject to human error. Types of Typical Use Errors There are two types of typical use error when it comes to birth control: Not Following Instructions: Condoms are a good example of how this can lead to birth control failure. It's important to make sure a condom fits correctly, for example, and to be careful when removing it. Whatever type of birth control you use, make certain you know how to use it. Forgetting or Choosing Not to Use It: Let's say you're on birth control pills. It goes without saying, if you keep forgetting to take them or feel that it will be OK "just this once" to skip a pill, you're setting yourself up for unintended pregnancy. Create a fail-proof routine for popping your pills—store them next to your toothbrush so you're reminded every morning or switch to a contraceptive that you don't have to deal with on a daily basis, such as an IUD or implant. Other Factors That Can Lead to Birth Control Failure Besides human error, there are other potential reasons a particular method of birth control might fail. For example, certain medications ranging from antibiotics and antidepressants to diabetes drugs can make birth control pills less effective. Even some natural herbs and supplements can interfere. Hormone-based birth control may not work as effectively in women who are overweight or obese either. What to Do If Your Birth Control Fails If you suspect something went wrong with your birth control right away—for example, the condom broke—you can greatly lower the risk of becoming pregnant by using emergency contraception. This is a pill you can buy over the counter, no matter your age, to take within three to five days of a birth control accident or after having unprotected sex. Of course, it's not always possible to know right away if your birth control has failed. The possibility will only come up if you or your partner's period is late. In that case, take a home pregnancy test right away. You'll have your answer sooner rather than later and will know what to do: Relax if it's negative, or see a doctor confirm if you really are pregnant. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Effectiveness of Family Planning Methods. Planned Parenthood. How effective is the birth control pill? American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Emergency contraception. Updated May 2019.