Highlights of a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)

Contraceptive Use in the United States: 1982-90

Advance Data No. 260

For release February 14, 1995

Data highlights

The percent of women aged 15-44 years whose partners used condoms for birth control increased from 9 percent in 1988 to 11 percent in 1990, and the use of birth control pills in this age group declined slightly from 19 to 17 percent.

Among women aged 15-44 years at risk of an unintended pregnancy, the proportion not using contraceptives increased from 7 to 12 percent from 1988 to 1990. This trend occurred mainly among younger women, never-married women, and white women.

Among never-married women using contraception, the proportion who used condoms increased from 20 to 30 percent and the proportion using the pill declined from 59 to 51 percent.

Among females 15-19 years of age, 32 percent used contraceptives in both 1988 and 1990, but among sexually experienced teenagers, contraceptive use declined slightly from 61 to 58 percent.

The percent of sexually experienced teenage females who were sexually active but did not use contraception in the month prior to the survey increased dramatically from 8 to 22 percent.

For more information, please contact NCHS, Office of Public Affairs (301) 458-4800, or via e-mail at paoquery@nch10a.em.cdc.gov.

No. 260. Contraceptive Use in the United States: 1982-90. 16 pp. (PHS) 95-1250
View/download PDF 152 KB

This page last reviewed October 06, 2006