Our review broadly confirms the hierarchy of contraceptive effectiveness in descending order as: (1) female sterilisation, long-acting hormonal contraceptives (LNG-IUS and implants); (2) Cu-IUDs with > or =300 mm( 2 ) surface area; (3) Cu-IUDs with <300 mm( 2 ) surface area and short-acting hormonal contraceptives (injectables, oral contraceptives, the patch and vaginal ring), and (4) barrier methods and natural methods.