News | Hormonal Contraceptive Use Declines as Fertility Awareness Methods Gain Popularity
A new study shows that over the past five years, women seeking abortion care in England and Wales have shifted from more reliable hormonal contraception toward more “natural” fertility awareness methods. Published online in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health, the study found declining use of combined and progestogen-only pills, implants, patches, and vaginal rings, alongside increased use of fertility awareness methods such as period-tracking apps.
Declining Use of Hormonal Contraception
The study found that women increasingly favor “natural” contraception, including fertility awareness methods that track menstrual cycles and identify ovulation. This suggests reduced acceptance of reliance on hormonal methods.
In 2010, about half of reproductive-age women in the UK used oral contraceptives, but that proportion has since declined. Social media has also been cited as a factor in the shift toward natural methods. However, fertility awareness methods have higher failure rates, ranging from 2% to 23% with initial use, compared with 7% for oral contraceptives and less than 1% for intrauterine devices.
Methods and Results
To examine contraceptive use at the time of conception, researchers compared data from January to June 2018 involving 33,495 women with data from January to June 2023 involving 55,055 women. Fewer younger women aged 25 or under sought abortions in 2023, while the proportion seeking an abortion for the first time fell from 62% in 2018 to 59%.
The proportion of women from ethnic minority groups increased, as did the proportion of medical abortions. The share of women who were 7 weeks pregnant or less rose sharply from 37% in 2018 to more than 59% in 2023.
Changes in Contraceptive Methods
Contraceptive use changed significantly between 2018 and 2023. Fertility awareness method use rose from 0.4% to 2.5%, while the average age of users fell from nearly 30 to 27. Hormonal contraceptive use declined from 18.9% to 11.3%, and use of long-acting reversible contraceptive implants fell from 3% to 0.6%.
More notably, the proportion of women who conceived without using any contraception rose from 56% in 2018 to nearly 70% in 2023.
Difficulty Accessing Contraception After the Pandemic
Researchers said the change may partly reflect reduced access to contraception after the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff shortages and reduced capacity in primary care and sexual health services made it harder to obtain more effective methods. Changing attitudes and access barriers may lead more women to use less effective methods, potentially increasing unintended pregnancies.
Conclusions and Outlook
Although rising abortion rates have multiple causes, researchers emphasized changes in contraception, particularly increased use of fertility apps, period-tracking apps, and natural methods. Further research is needed on their effectiveness and adoption so the public can receive accurate information and make informed contraceptive choices.
The researchers concluded: “Although these more natural contraceptive methods are becoming popular, questions remain about their effectiveness. Further research is needed into their relationship with unintended pregnancy.”
News | Hormonal Contraceptive Use Declines as Fertility Awareness Methods Gain Popularity
News | Hormonal Contraceptive Use Declines as Fertility Awareness Methods Gain Popularity
A new study shows that over the past five years, women seeking abortion care in England and Wales have shifted from more reliable hormonal contraception toward more “natural” fertility awareness methods. Published online in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health, the study found declining use of combined and progestogen-only pills, implants, patches, and vaginal rings, alongside increased use of fertility awareness methods such as period-tracking apps.
Declining Use of Hormonal Contraception
The study found that women increasingly favor “natural” contraception, including fertility awareness methods that track menstrual cycles and identify ovulation. This suggests reduced acceptance of reliance on hormonal methods.
In 2010, about half of reproductive-age women in the UK used oral contraceptives, but that proportion has since declined. Social media has also been cited as a factor in the shift toward natural methods. However, fertility awareness methods have higher failure rates, ranging from 2% to 23% with initial use, compared with 7% for oral contraceptives and less than 1% for intrauterine devices.
Methods and Results
To examine contraceptive use at the time of conception, researchers compared data from January to June 2018 involving 33,495 women with data from January to June 2023 involving 55,055 women. Fewer younger women aged 25 or under sought abortions in 2023, while the proportion seeking an abortion for the first time fell from 62% in 2018 to 59%.
The proportion of women from ethnic minority groups increased, as did the proportion of medical abortions. The share of women who were 7 weeks pregnant or less rose sharply from 37% in 2018 to more than 59% in 2023.
Changes in Contraceptive Methods
Contraceptive use changed significantly between 2018 and 2023. Fertility awareness method use rose from 0.4% to 2.5%, while the average age of users fell from nearly 30 to 27. Hormonal contraceptive use declined from 18.9% to 11.3%, and use of long-acting reversible contraceptive implants fell from 3% to 0.6%.
More notably, the proportion of women who conceived without using any contraception rose from 56% in 2018 to nearly 70% in 2023.
Difficulty Accessing Contraception After the Pandemic
Researchers said the change may partly reflect reduced access to contraception after the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff shortages and reduced capacity in primary care and sexual health services made it harder to obtain more effective methods. Changing attitudes and access barriers may lead more women to use less effective methods, potentially increasing unintended pregnancies.
Conclusions and Outlook
Although rising abortion rates have multiple causes, researchers emphasized changes in contraception, particularly increased use of fertility apps, period-tracking apps, and natural methods. Further research is needed on their effectiveness and adoption so the public can receive accurate information and make informed contraceptive choices.
The researchers concluded: “Although these more natural contraceptive methods are becoming popular, questions remain about their effectiveness. Further research is needed into their relationship with unintended pregnancy.”
Source:
Collected online