11 Facts About Birth Control

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  1. The first record of birth control dates back to an Egyptian manuscript written in 1550 B.C.
  2. There are around 16 types of birth control methods which include:
  3. Four things to consider when deciding on the best birth control method for you:
    • Reliability of the method
    • Ease of use of the method
    • Potential side-effects
    • Health risks
  4. The leading birth control method used by women ages 15-29 in the US is the pill. (17.1%)
  5. Family Planning is the planning of when to have children and the use of birth control and other techniques to implement such plans.
    • Natural family planning uses the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle to achieve or postpone pregnancy.
  6. Family planning is promoted globally by institutions like the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the health and economic development of communities and ensure a woman’s well-being and autonomy. Other reasons include:
    • Prevent pregnancy-related health risks in women
    • Reduce unsafe abortions
    • Reduce infant mortality
    • Prevent HIV/AIDS
    • Become economically stable by making wise choices regarding number of kids they want and can afford to sustain.
  7. 53 percent  of African women have an unmet need for contraception, in Asia it’s 21 percent and it's 22 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  8. 222 million women in developing countries would like to delay or stop childbearing, but are not using any birth control method for one or more of the following reasons:
    • Limited access to contraception, particularly among young people, poorer segments of populations, or unmarried people
    • Fear of side-effects
    • Cultural or religious opposition
    • Poor quality of available services
    • Gender-based barriers
  9. The morning-after pill works by preventing ovulation, which means that an egg won’t be released. And as a result, the sperm can’t be fertilized.
  10. Contraceptive gel is a possible new method to be released in 2015. It would consist of a gel or lotion that could be rubbed on the skin to stop ovulation.
  11. Birth Control is a $4 billion dollar business, which means it is expected to grow and provide more effective contraceptive methods in the future.

Sources: World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The U.K. Telegraph, Planned Parenthood, New York Times, Time, USCCB

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