Use of Contraception In The World

When was the first contraceptive pill made? How widely is the use of contraception spread across the world?

Read the interesting facts about the use of contraception across the world and the historical overview, that is, the time from the first contraceptive method to modern methods used today, as well as knowledge and usefulness of contraceptives among inhabitants of different continents.

Use of contraception in the past

One of the first forms of contraception is a pessary (vaginal suppository), often lubricated with honey, and used by women in ancient Egypt.

Condoms were used in numerous old civilizations; in general, they were made out of linen or animal tissue.

The first oral contraceptive pills were introduced in the USA in 1960. It has been estimated that half a million of women used them in the first year. 

About 85 per cent of sexually active women who do not use any form of contraception get pregnant within a year and about 45 per cent of women do not use contraception because they believe there is no risk of getting pregnant.

A third of women say that they do not use contraception because of the costs. However, the costs estimated for raising a child until the age of 21 in Great Britain amount to more than £186.000 (€231.314).

Use of contraception in Europe

In Europe, 47 per cent of women do not use contraception when they have the first sexual intercourse with a new partner and 44 per cent of women do not ask for advice on contraception before they have sexual relations with the new partner.

In Europe, 95 per cent of men support or accept the partner’s choice of a contraceptive, but only 86 per cent of them are familiar with the form of contraceptive their partners use.

Use of contraception in Africa

In the developing countries, there are 201 million women who want to postpone pregnancy or avoid it, of which 137 million do not use any form of contraception and 64 million rely on fairly ineffective traditional methods.

In 2003, the provision of modern contraceptives in the developing countries cost 7.1 billion dollars. According to assessments, these funds helped to prevent 187 million unplanned pregnancies and 105 million abortions.

Use of contraception in the USA

In 2002, 56 per cent of women in the USA occasionally used the contraceptive method of withdrawal of the sexual organ before ejaculating semen (coitus interruptus). Despite the fact that it is not an effective contraceptive method its use has increased since 1982 when the method was used by 25 per cent of women.

Use of contraception in Asia

In South Asia, 19 per cent of married young women do not use contraceptives in Bangladesh and 41 per cent in Nepal. There is a similar situation in Southeast Asia, where 9 to 10 per cent of women do not use contraceptives in Indonesia and Vietnam and 32 per cent in the Philippines.

Less than two thirds of married young women in South Asia are familiar with at least one form of modern contraception for women (59 per cent in Pakistan, 63 per cent in India).

Learn more about different methods of contraception in our Lover's Guide.