Contraceptive Use in the United States: 1982-90

Advance Data 260.  This report presents information on contraceptive use among U.S. women. In 1990, 59 percent of women 15-44 years of age were using contraception. The increase in the percent using contraception observed from 1982 to 1988 (56 to 60 percent) did not continue through 1990. Findings are based on the 1988 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) and the 1990 NSFG Telephone Reinterview Survey. The survey obtains information on a number of topics relating to childbearing, family planning, and related aspects of maternal and child health for women 15-44 years of age.

Data Highlights:

In 1990 the leading methods of contraception among U.S. females remained female sterilization (18 percent), the pill (17 percent), and the condom (11 percent).

Information on the use of three new methods--NORPLANT, the female condom, and Depo-Provera is not available. The survey was conducted before the introduction of these forms of birth control.

Condom use continued to increase between 1988 (9 percent) and 1990 (11 percent), while the overall use of male and female sterilization did not change and the use of the pill declined from 19 to 17 percent.

This page last reviewed January 11, 2007