Faulty reasoning signals

• Appeal to Authority - 10.2%
• Anchoring Bias - 6.8%
• Hasty Generalization - 3.9%

Article text

“People should feel really valid in whatever decision they make,” Sanders says. “These are all effective methods at preventing pregnancy.”

The greater parity among the effectiveness of different methods stands in contrast to a memorable statistic from a 2012 study. The Contraceptive CHOICE Project’s stated goal was to promote the use of long-acting reversible contraceptives, according to the project team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The study reported that participants using the contraceptive patch, the pill or the ring had a failure rate of 4.6 per 100 people per year, about 20 times higher than that of implants or IUDs.

“What HER Salt Lake adds is incredible evidence that having the ideal access and support to use [preferred] methods actually increases the effectiveness of shorter-term methods for preventing pregnancy,” says Anu Manchikanti Gómez, a sexual and reproductive health equity researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, who was not involved in the study.

That support and access can prevent lapses in consistent use. And it’s not only about forgetting to take a pill. It can be hard for some to take time off from work to see a doctor. Others don’t have transportation to get to the pharmacy. “A missed refill, a delayed appointment, out-of-pocket costs or an unavailable method creates that gap — it’s not necessarily on the person,” Sanders says. “The small disruptions matter.”

The study also adds to the evidence behind respecting patient preferences in choosing a birth control method. Person-centered contraceptive counseling focuses on the values and priorities of the patient . Those could include effectiveness, avoiding side effects or being able to start and stop a method at home rather than depend on a medical visit. Often, health care providers have thought primarily in terms of effectiveness , recommending long-acting methods instead of prioritizing patients’ preferences.

White starts conversations about contraception by asking, “What is important to you about your birth control?” and leaves it open-ended to let the patient be the guide. “When people feel heard,” she says, “they are more likely to have trust in the care they are getting [and] to reach back out if they have any problems.”

More Stories from Science News on Health & Medicine

Many U.S. teens underestimate fentanyl’s deadly risk

By Aimee Cunningham July 7, 2026

Acetaminophen in pregnancy shows no link to autism or ADHD, again

By Aimee Cunningham June 29, 2026

Even ‘safe’ air pollution levels may affect heart health

By Isha Ishtiaq June 23, 2026

The New World screwworm has returned to the U.S. Now what?

By Fechi Inyama June 22, 2026

A deadly fungus that can infect cats and people is spreading

By Tina Hesman Saey June 17, 2026

A blood test for dementia may tell you if you have more than one type

By Michael Howerton June 16, 2026

Why more male than female newborns may get the crucial vitamin K shot

By Aimee Cunningham June 15, 2026

A popular sunscreen ingredient can finally be sold in the United States

By Meghan Rosen June 12, 2026