When we think of birth control methods, the pill or condoms is usually what first comes to mind. But according to a new report by the National Center for Health Statistics, the use of long-term methods such as intrauterine devices and implants has been rapidly increasing over the last few years.
Sixty-two percent of American women use some sort of birth control method, according to the NCHS. 26 percent of these women use the pill, which is the most common method, and 15 percent rely on condoms. The report reveals that in 2013, 11.6 percent of women were using long-acting methods such as IUDs, compared to only 6 percent in 2006. In 2002, only 2.4 percent of women used such methods.
Health professionals believe long-acting methods are more effective than other methods, and the increasing use could reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies in the US (of which there are about 3.4 million each year). Another positive is the convenience—after the device is inserted, women do not have to worry about forgetting to take the pill each day at a specified time, or about having a condom on hand.
The report found that demographically, Hispanic women are the most likely to use long-term methods (15.1 percent), while black women are least likely (8.6 percent). 11.4 percent of white women use long-term methods. While the use of most birth control methods were largely the same across educational backgrounds, the report did find that women who are less educated are more likely to use sterilization than women with a college degree or higher.
The use of a long-term device might seem a little scary compared to the familiarity of using the pill or condoms—Would you consider making the switch?