Birth control methods can fail, and pregnancy is possible even when using contraception.
True
Birth control can fail
Birth Control Fails: 8 Ways You Can Still Get Pregnant
Source: healthline.com
At a glance
Verified August 12, 2025Key Evidence
The American Pregnancy Association states that birth control failure is more common than many realize and varies by method.
americanpregnancy.orgamericanpregnancy.orgBirth Control Failure Rates
Healthline highlights causes such as skipping doses and biological factors that can lead to failure even with correct use.
healthline.comhealthline.comBirth Control Fails: 8 Ways You Can Still Get Pregnant
CNN reports on a genetic variant that may cause hormonal birth control to be less effective in some women.
cnn.comcnn.comYour birth control may fail if you have this genetic variant, research suggests
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Birth control is designed to prevent pregnancy, but no method is 100% effective. Failure can occur due to several factors including incorrect or inconsistent use, biological differences, and rare genetic variants. For example, hormonal birth control pills require daily intake at the same time to maintain effectiveness; missing doses or conditions like vomiting can reduce their efficacy.
Additionally, some women carry genetic variants that cause faster hormone breakdown, reducing the pill's effectiveness. Human error remains the most common reason for failure, but even perfect use does not guarantee complete prevention of pregnancy. Different birth control methods have varying failure rates, but all carry some risk of unintended pregnancy.
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