Both the combined and progestin-only pills are highly effective with perfect use, with a failure rate of less than 1%. However, the failure rate with “typical use” is 9%, which accounts for inconsistent or incorrect use.

In this podcast Dr Thomas Round, a GP and EKU Clinical Lead, talks to Dr Toni Hazell, a GP with an interest in women's health and the RCGP Deputy Medical Director for eLearning about the types of combined oral contraception, risk assessment tools e.g. UKMEC, contraindications, individualising pill taking regimes, missed pill rules and common myths.