United States | Contraception

Publicly Funded Family Planning

Millions of low-income men and women in the United States rely on publicly funded family planning services obtained through Title X, Medicaid and other public programs. The Guttmacher Institute assesses the breadth and impact of these services, including the number of unintended pregnancies, unplanned births, abortions, STIs and cervical cancer cases averted as a result of these services, and estimates the cost savings that result. The Institute relies on these data to advocate for these programs and providers—safety-net health centers, in particular—and for ensuring that they have sufficient funding to adequately meet the needs of the individuals who rely on their services.

In the absence of publicly funded family planning services from all sources in 2013, levels of unintended pregnancy, unplanned birth and abortion would have been 60% higher among U.S. women. Absent the services provided by Title X–funded clinics specifically, levels of unintended pregnancy would have been 30% higher