Final answer:
Modern oral contraceptives have a 1% failure rate with perfect use and a 10% failure rate with typical use, making them highly effective when used correctly. The effectiveness of different methods varies, with IUDs being among the most effective with less than a 1% failure rate. The choice of contraception should consider personal factors and whether the method is reversible or permanent.
Step-by-step explanation:
Modern oral contraceptives are considered to be highly effective forms of birth control when used correctly. With perfect use, the failure rate of birth control pills is as low as 1%. However, with typical use, which factors in human error like forgetting to take the pill at the same time every day, the failure rate increases to about 10%.
The different methods of contraception have varying rates of effectiveness. For instance, the intrauterine device (IUD) has a failure rate of less than 1% with both typical and perfect use, which is highly effective. On the other hand, barrier methods such as male condoms have higher typical use failure rates when compared to hormonal methods or IUDs.
When deciding on a form of contraception, one must consider not only the failure rates but also factors such as the individual's health, preferences, and the possibility of a method being reversible or permanent.