Terminology
Terminology
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Our applications utilize many terms related to global reproductive health and contraceptive use. If you are unfamiliar with a term, please refer to the definitions below.
Key Terms, as defined by the DHS Program:
Key Terms, as defined by the DHS Program:
Contraceptive discontinuation rates
Reasons for contraceptive discontinuation
Unmet need
Efficacy
Postpartum
Rates at which women quit or switched contraceptive methods within their first year of use due to method failure, desire for pregnancy, health reasons, or other reasons, according to a specific method.
The percent distribution of discontinuations of contraceptive methods in the five years preceding the survey by main reasons for discontinuation, according to a specific method.
The percentage of women who do not want to become pregnant but are not using contraception, likely due to gaps in accessibility or information or worries about possible side effects. If a woman is said to have "no unmet need," she either wants to become pregnant and is therefore not using contraception or she does not want to become pregnant and is therefore using contraception.
The effectiveness of a contraceptive method at preventing pregnancy in cases out of 100.
The period after a woman has given birth.
Types of contraceptive methods:
Types of contraceptive methods:
- Modern methods: Methods of preventing pregnancy based on technological advances designed to overcome biology. This includes:
- Female and male sterilization
- Pills
- IUDs
- Injections
- Implants
- Female and male condoms
- Diaphragm
- Foam and jelly
- LAM
- Country-specific modern methods
- Traditional methods: Methods of preventing pregnancy based on awareness and observations about a woman’s body and menstrual cycle, without the use of medications or physical devices. This includes:
- Rhythm
- Withdrawal
- Country-specific traditional methods
Efficacy of contraceptive methods:
Efficacy of contraceptive methods:
Method
Method
Abstinence
Implants
Male sterilization
Female sterilization
Intrauterine device (IUD)
Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM)
Injections
Pills
Male condoms
Diaphragm
Female condoms
Rhythm
Withdrawal
Foam and jelly
Non-use
Description
Description
Refraining from sexual intercourse.
Small, flexible rods or capsules placed under the skin of the upper arm to prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucous to block sperm and egg from meeting.
Permanent contraception to block or cut the vas deferens tubes that carry sperm from the testicles.
Permanent contraception to block or cut the fallopian tubes that carry egg to uterus, blocking sperm and egg from meeting.
Small, flexible plastic devices inserted into the uterus. IUDs containing copper sleeves or wire are intended to damage sperm and prevent it from meeting the egg. Plastic-only IUDs, instead, block sperm and egg from meeting by releasing hormones to thicken cervical mucous.
Temporary contraception for new mothers whose monthly bleeding has not returned; based on breastfeeding's natural ability to prevent ovulation.
Hormones injected into the muscle or under the skin every 2 or 3 months, depending on the product, to prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucous to block sperm and egg from meeting.
Daily oral contraceptives that block sperm and egg from meeting by releasing hormones to prevent ovulation and thicken cervical mucous. Pills can either be a combination of two hormones, estrogen and progestogen, or can contain only progestogen.
Sheaths, or coverings, that fit over an erect penis, forming a barrier to prevent sperm and egg from meeting.
A silicone dome inserted into the vagina to cover the cervix and block sperm and egg from meeting.
Sheaths, or linings, that fit loosely inside the vagina, forming a barrier to prevent sperm and egg from meeting.
Monitoring the pattern of one's menstrual cycle over 6 months and avoiding unprotected vaginal sex during the first and last estimated fertile days by abstaining or using a condom.
Withdrawing one's penis from a partner's vagina and ejaculating outside the vagina, keeping semen away from the partner's external genitalia.
Barrier methods of birth control that block the opening of the cervix with spermicide, a chemical that stops sperm from moving effectively, therefore preventing sperm and egg from meeting.
Abstaining from all contraceptive methods, usually out of a desire to become pregnant though often related to lack of access or information or worries about side effects.
Efficacy
Efficacy
100%
99.99%
99.85%
99.50%
99.50%
98%
97%
92%
85%
84%
79%
75%
73%
71%
15%
References:
References:
*All definitions except abstinence, diaphragm, foam and jelly, and non-use are provided by the World Health Organization here.
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