How can the effectiveness of a contraceptive be measured?

Pearl Index

The Pearl pregnancy rate is the standard method for comparison of effectiveness. This measures the number of pregnancies that occur for each contraceptive method if used by 100 women for one year. Long-term users of a method probably have lower pregnancy rates than indicated by thePearl rate because those who have failures are likely to change method. Furthermore failures are more likely in younger women who may be more fertile and more sexually active. This explains why there is a range of quoted Pearl rates for each contraceptive method.

Table 13.1 Pearl Index - Pregnancy rates per 100 couples in first year of use.

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