Contraception Comparison: IUD vs Implant and Every Other Method
Explore all primary birth control options. Filter by your personal preferences (hormonal vs non-hormonal, STI protection, set-and-forget duration) to compare clinical effectiveness and pros/cons.
Compare contraception methods
Filter Contraception Options
Compare methods by category, hormone content, duration, and protection level.
Contraceptive Implant (e.g. Nexplanon)
- Highest effectiveness rate
- Fit and forget for 3 years
Copper Intrauterine Device (IUD)
- 100% hormone-free
- Lasts 5–10 years
Hormonal Intrauterine System (IUS, e.g. Mirena, Kyleena)
- Extremely effective
- Usually makes periods much lighter, less painful, or stop entirely
External (Male) Condoms
- Protects against BOTH pregnancy and STIs
- Widely available without prescription
Internal (Female) Condoms
- STI and pregnancy protection controlled by the receptive partner
- Can be inserted in advance
Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill (COC)
- Can make periods regular, lighter, and less painful
- Can improve acne
Progestogen-Only Pill (POP / Mini-pill)
- Estrogen-free: safe for smokers over 35 and people with migraine with aura
- Safe while breastfeeding
Contraceptive Injection (Depo-Provera / Sayana Press)
- Does not rely on daily memory
- Lasts 3 months
Emergency Contraception (Levonorgestrel / Ella / Copper IUD)
- Prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex or condom slip
- Available from pharmacies or sexual health clinics
How to use this contraception comparison
Filter by what actually matters to you — hormonal or non-hormonal, whether it also protects against STIs, and how long you want it to last without thinking about it — then read across the row. The comparison is there to narrow a shortlist you can take to a clinician, not to pick for you.
IUD vs implant, and the rest of the shortlist
Contraception is usually quoted two ways: perfect use, meaning the method used exactly as directed every time, and typical use, which accounts for late pills, split condoms and real life. The gap between the two is large for methods you have to remember and almost nil for the contraceptive implant and intrauterine device, which is the single most useful thing to understand when comparing birth control options.
What this comparison does not decide for you
Effectiveness is only one axis. Medical history, medicines you already take, migraine with aura, blood pressure, breastfeeding, plans for pregnancy and how you feel about a procedure all affect what is suitable — and none of that is in a table. Barrier methods are also the only entries here that reduce STI transmission, so a second method is often the right answer rather than a single choice.