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" Contraceptive methods vary dramatically in their levels of effectiveness, new research suggests. Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis carried out a study to evaluate the effectiveness of different birth control methods at preventing unwanted pregnancy. They found that women who used the contraceptive pill, patch or vaginal ring were 20 times more likely to fall pregnant than those who used long-acting methods, such as an intrauterine device (IUD) or implant. The study - which is published in the New England Journal of Medicine - also revealed that among women who used the pill, those under the age of 21 were almost twice as likely to have an unplanned pregnancy as older women. It is thought that younger women may be less likely to remember to take their pill every day. Senior author Dr Jeffrey Peipert said that the study provides &amp;#039;the best evidence we have that long-acting reversible methods are far superior to the birth control pill, patch and ring&amp;#039;. He added: &amp;#039;IUDs are implants are more effective because women can forget about them after clinicians put the devices in place.&amp;#039; NHS figures show that the pill is more popular than long-acting contraceptives among young women. Approximately half of women who attend contraception clinics choose the pill, while 28 per cent opt for long-acting methods. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a22475/iuds-and-implants-more-effective-than-the-pill/>