Birth control failure percentages

What exactly do the percentages given for bc failure rates mean? For instance, if a certain method is reported as 99% effective, does that mean she'll get pregnant once out of every 100 times? Does it have to do with the percent of people who use it correctly? Does it mean that 1% of the couples who use that method correctly for a certain number of years will get pregnant anyway? Or am I missing the meaning completely?

The failure rate is for the people who don't use it correctly by forgetting a dose or not taking it by the same time everyday. It's for them. But there are also a very small group of women (rare, but you have them -- I know one) that birth control simply does not work on them.

No form of birth control is foolproof ,double up. Also too with the pill form of birth control if she is taking antibiotics it can make the pill ineffective. That is something that nobody tells you. My step sister got pregnant twice that way because she didn't know.

If your worried then use two forms of birth control and have her keep track of when she is fertile and avoid having sex on those days (yes, there is an app for that).

99 out of 100 is for correct usage.

Thanks for the replies. But also, condoms have a listed failure rate, which would not apply to a missed pill or dosage, or timing, etc. The method in use in my particular situation is an IUD, the percentage of which I'm not sure of. But I was just wondering what the number means, whatever it happens to be. (Something like 1 out of 1000? Maybe better?)

You can get pregnant with an IUD as well. There was a member on this forum that got pregnant with an IUD not too long ago. I also knew another woman personally who got pregnant with an IUD. It does happen. Remember nothing is foolproof aside from no sex.

Thanks for the replies. But also, condoms have a listed failure rate, which would not apply to a missed pill or dosage, or timing, etc. The method in use in my particular situation is an IUD, the percentage of which I'm not sure of. But I was just wondering what the number means, whatever it happens to be. (Something like 1 out of 1000? Maybe better?)

You can get pregnant even if you have an IUD or are on any other kind of birth control. And, just to be clear is not a "you will be fine 99 time and get pregnant as soon as you have sex 100 times" Just because you do or do not get pregnant at X time does not effect if you will get pregnant at Y time.

Use the IUD, use a condom, and keep track of the fertility cycle and you will be pretty safe.

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go to this website for more information on what failure rates mean.

I got pregnant on the pill due to antibiotics and not being very careful taking them. I'd got away with being a little careless for 6 years and thought itd never happen to me but it did.

Thanks for the replies. But also, condoms have a listed failure rate, which would not apply to a missed pill or dosage, or timing, etc. The method in use in my particular situation is an IUD, the percentage of which I'm not sure of.

I knew two women who had IUDs and still got pregnant. The only thing that is 100% is abstinence.

The reason why condoms do not have a high successful rate is because of the user itself- using expired condoms, storing condoms in areas higher than room temperature, using lube that wears the condom's latex material, or simply not putting it on right. I've been using condoms for ten years and never had one break.

Simple as this: if you are ready for sex, be responsible to accept ANY consequence that comes with it.

I'm pretty sure that by 99% effective, it means that with proper usage, 99% of women who use it will not become pregnant over the course of a year. Which likewise means that with proper usage, 1% WILL get pregnant sometime in the span of the following 12 months. It does NOT mean that you will become pregnant an average of 1 of 100 times you have sex.