Birth Control Cost Calculator

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) like the hormonal IUD and copper IUD tend to be cheapest over time despite higher upfront costs. The copper IUD, for example, can last up to 10 years, bringing its annual cost well below that of monthly pill prescriptions. Vasectomy and tubal ligation are one-time permanent options with zero ongoing cost.

The Pearl Index measures contraceptive effectiveness — it represents the number of unintended pregnancies per 100 women using a method for one year. A lower Pearl Index means higher effectiveness. For example, the implant and IUD have Pearl Index values below 1, while typical use of condoms is around 13–18.

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the US, most health insurance plans are required to cover FDA-approved contraceptive methods at no cost to the patient. However, coverage can vary based on your plan type and employer. Always check with your insurer to confirm which methods are covered.

Simply select your preferred contraceptive method from the dropdown, choose your insurance coverage level, and enter how many years you plan to use the method. The calculator instantly shows total cost, annual cost, monthly cost, and the effectiveness (Pearl Index) of the selected method.

Hormonal IUDs, copper IUDs, and subdermal implants are among the most effective methods with over 99% effectiveness and Pearl Index values below 1. Sterilization methods (vasectomy, tubal ligation) are also highly effective. Combined oral contraceptive pills are about 91–99% effective depending on typical vs. perfect use.

Most hormonal and long-acting contraceptive methods (pills, IUDs, implants, patches, injections) do NOT protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Only barrier methods — male and female condoms — offer STI protection alongside pregnancy prevention. Condoms are often recommended in combination with other methods for dual protection.

Perfect use effectiveness assumes the method is used correctly every single time, while typical use accounts for real-world human error (e.g., forgetting a pill). Long-acting methods like IUDs and implants have virtually no difference between the two, since user error is eliminated. User-dependent methods like pills and condoms have a wider gap between perfect and typical use rates.

Currently, the two main contraceptive options for men are condoms and vasectomy. Male hormonal contraceptive pills have shown 99% effectiveness in animal trials and are entering human trials, but no male hormonal pill is approved for use yet. This places a disproportionate financial and health responsibility on women in many relationships.