Headlines - French Women and Contraception: Initial Findings from the 2016 Health Barometer

To mark World Contraception Day on September 26, 2017, Santé publique France is releasing the first data from the 2016 Health Barometer on women’s contraceptive practices and how they have changed since 2010. Changes in the use of contraceptive methods vary greatly depending on women’s age. The Health Barometer is a telephone survey conducted from January 8 to August 1, 2016, among a sample of 15,216 people aged 15 to 75. The analysis of contraceptive practices focused on 4,315 women aged 15 to 49 who were relevant to the study, meaning they were not postmenopausal, not infertile, not pregnant, had had sexual intercourse with a man in the past 12 months, and were not seeking to have a child.Key takeaways: - In 2016, the pill remained the most widely used method of contraception, ahead of the intrauterine device (IUD) and condoms. Its highest usage rates were recorded among those aged 15–19 (60.4%) and 20–24 (59.5%).- The decline in pill use continues (45% of women in 2010 vs. 40.5% in 2013 and 36.5% in 2016), particularly among women aged 20–29. This decline is being offset by increased use of the IUD, condoms, and the implant. - There is now a greater variety of methods used by women. The reference website designed by Santé publique France, www.choisirsacontraception.fr, offers comprehensive and detailed information on contraception. All contraceptive methods are presented there. Today, women have more than a dozen options to choose from to find the contraception that suits their lifestyle, emotional situation, and medical needs. Clicking on the icon allows users to learn about the method, its advantages, its disadvantages, and how to use it… Visitors can find more general information or learn how to discuss contraception with a partner, a loved one, or a healthcare professional.