Contraceptive Practices in the United States

One of the national health objectives since 1980 has been to reduce the percentage of unintended pregnancies. The Center for Disease Control published the results of the National Survey of Family Growth interviews for the time period 2006 to 2010, and compared the data to 1995. Despite widespread access to family planning, and pervasive sexual education, there has been little reduction in the rate of unintended pregnancies over the last 10-15 years. In 1995, 48% of pregnancies were unintended, and currently the reported rate is 49% of all pregnancies. The percentage of births to unmarried women is currently 41%, compared to 32% in 1995.

Comparing the methods of contraceptive use in 2008, 28% of contracepting women ages 15-44 are on the Pill, and 27% have been sterilized. Looking at the trends according to age, in the 20-24 age group, 2.6 % of women are sterilized, 0.9% of males are sterilized. By 30-34, 30% of women have been sterilized, and 9.5% of their male partners. Of the contracepting women ages 40-44, 50.6% have been sterilized, and 20% of males, making over 70% of contracepting couples over 40 surgically sterilized.

If you look at use of sterilization by educational level, 54.9% of contracepting women  ages 15-44 without a high school diploma have been sterilized, whereas  only 12.7% of women with a bachelor’s degree or higher have been sterilized.

By income level, 43% of contracepting  women at the 0-149% of poverty level income were sterilized, versus 14% of contracepting women at the above 400% of poverty level.

In 1995, the National Survey of Family Growth asked women and their partners if they wished they could reverse their sterilization. If the woman had a tubal ligation, 24.3% of the time either one or both partners wished it could be reversed. In cases where the man had a vasectomy, 11.2% of the time one or both partners regretted the sterilization. Considering the number of couples of child bearing years who had chosen sterilization as their family planning method in 1995, this meant over three million couples regretted their sterilization!

In the 1995 statistics, periodic abstinence included the outdated calendar rhythm method as well as  modern NFP methods. In 2008, the interviewers separated these two categories, identifying that 0.6% of women currently use the unreliable calendar method,  versus 0.1% that currently use the more effective scientifically advanced natural family planning methods promoted by CANFP. Despite realizing there is a difference, the “failure” rate of 25% was reported lumping both groups together, thus listing natural methods as one of the most ineffective means for family planning.

So, 0.1% of women are currently using NFP……. we have a lot of work to do, raising awareness regarding the medical, spiritual and relational benefits of NFP! Perhaps if more couples were aware of the existence of an effective family planning method that does not carry any negative health risks, fewer would view permanent sterilization as their best, or only option.