An Overview of Contraception
in the United States
- The typical American woman, who wants two children, spends about five years pregnant, postpartum or trying to become pregnant, and three decades trying to avoid pregnancy.
- 43 million women of reproductive age (7 in 10) are sexually active and do not want to become pregnant, but could become pregnant if they or their partners fail to use a contraceptive method.
- Virtually all women (98%) aged 15-44 who have ever had intercourse have used contraception at least once.
- The pill is the most commonly used reversible contraceptive method in the U.S.
- Among younger women, the pill and the condom are the most commonly used methods. Among older women, female sterilization is the most common method.
- About 11% of women at risk of unintended pregnancy are not currently using any contraception. Nonusers account for 52% of all unintended pregnancies in the United States.
- The two-thirds of women who use contraception consistently and correctly account for only 5% of all unintended pregnancies.
- 9 in 10 employer-based insurance plans cover contraception.
- 27 states have laws requiring insurance plans to cover contraception if they cover other prescription drugs.
- In 2006, 17.5 million women were in need of publicly funded contraceptive services and supplies because they either had an income below 250% of the federal poverty level or were younger than age 20.
- Publicly funded family planning services help women to avoid pregnancies they do not want and to plan pregnancies they do. In 2006, these services helped women avoid 1.94 million unintended pregnancies, which would likely have resulted in about 860,000 unintended births and 810,000 abortions.
- For every $1.00 invested in helping women avoid pregnancies they did not want to have, $4.02 are saved in Medicaid expenditures that would otherwise have been needed.
NEWS RELEASES
Despite Risk of Unintended Pregnancy, Many Women Unprotected
Growing Movement Calls for Steps to Make Contraceptives Easier to Obtain and Use
Does Withdrawal Deserve Another Look?
EXPERT STATEMENTS
“The typical American woman wants—and has—two children, which means she spends roughly three decades trying to avoid becoming pregnant,” says Jennifer Frost, a senior research associate at the Guttmacher Institute. “It is difficult for many women to find a contraceptive method that they can use continuously, over many years. Women who are unhappy with their chosen method or who are in a period of personal transition are more likely to have problems with continuous use. Health care providers in particular can play an important role in helping those women find and use a method that meets their contraceptive needs.”
“A Guttmacher Institute analysis found that the two-thirds of women at risk of unintended pregnancy who use contraception consistently and correctly account for only 5% of unintended pregnancies,” says Lawrence Finer, director for domestic research at the Guttmacher Institute. “Americans understand the value and benefits of birth control and overwhelmingly support it and use it. Virtually all sexually active Americans have used contraception at some point in their lives. Ultimately, access to birth control empowers Americans to make responsible decisions about when to become parents.”
“There is a growing body of evidence that investing in publicly funded contraceptive services can make an enormous impact by helping women reduce unintended pregnancies, abortions and unplanned births,” says Rachel Gold, director for public policy at the Guttmacher Institute. “Publicly funded family planning is basic health care that empowers disadvantaged women to decide for themselves when to become pregnant and how many children to have. It reduces the need for abortion. And it generates significant savings for taxpayer avoiding the substantial costs associated with unintended births. Publicly funded family planning truly is smart government at its best.”
To set up an interview, contact Rebecca Wind at 212-248-1953 or rwind@guttmacher.org.
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