Contraception, or birth control, is any medication, device, behavior or procedure that allows an individual to choose if and when to become pregnant. Some contraceptive methods can also be used to address and treat a variety of medical conditions that are not pregnancy related.
There are many different contraceptive methods, and there is no one method that is right for everyone. People choose methods for a variety of reasons, including how long they last, whether they require a provider visit, privacy, whether they have hormones, and how effective they are, among other reasons. Birth control methods include permanent methods, IUDs, implants, oral contraceptive pills, injections, vaginal rings, the patch, emergency contraception, condoms, fertility awareness-based methods, withdrawal, and some other coital-related methods like diaphragms, spermicides and cervical caps.
Contraception is a cornerstone of person-centered health care—a comprehensive approach that prioritizes the individual’s unique needs, values, preferences, and active participation in their own care. It emphasizes respectful, compassionate partnerships between patients and providers to support better health outcomes and overall well-being.
Everyone deserves comprehensive access to the birth control method of their choice without barriers, stigma or shame.
Learn about who uses contraception, varying preferences for methods, and how use aligns with needs.
The most used contraceptive methods in the United States typically require interaction with a health care provider. Publicly supported family planning programs like Title X play a crucial role in making birth control affordable and accessible to uninsured and low-income individuals.
Publicly Supported Family Planning Services in the United States
Details the scope, funding and reach of publicly supported providers, including how many people they serve and what services they offer.
Features and Benefits of the Title X Program
Explains how Title X functions, who it serves, what services it covers, and why it remains a critical pillar of public health infrastructure.
Where Do Reproductive-Aged Women Want to Get Contraception?
Analyzes patient preferences for provider types and settings, including barriers and facilitators to preferred care.
Use of Preferred Source of Contraception Among Users of the Pill, Patch, and Ring in the US
Examines contraceptive users’ preferences for sources of contraceptive care, including factors influencing preference for in-person vs. alternative access.
Evaluates patient experience of contraceptive counseling to monitor experience and quality of care over time.
Tracks changes in US women’s use of sexual and reproductive health services, highlighting shifting care patterns and persistent inequities.
The role of insurance in contraceptive access: Health insurance is often critical to accessing affordable contraception, but coverage varies significantly across states and plans. Access to a person’s preferred contraceptive method may be influenced by insurance type, out-of-pocket costs, and provider networks.
State policy differences in coverage and access: States differ widely in their contraception coverage requirements, often creating barriers for those in restrictive regions.
Publicly Supported Family Planning Services in the United States
Describes the diverse network of health care facilities that provide contraceptive services at reduced or no cost, with a focus on marginalized communities.
Features and Benefits of the Title X Program
Outlines the Title X program’s role in providing family planning services to people who are uninsured and have low incomes, and the challenges that threaten its goals.
Outlines the latest estimates on potential demand, availability and use of publicly supported family planning services.
Details the trends in service delivery and protocols at publicly supported family planning clinics.
Provides the latest estimates on the need for, access to, and use of publicly funded family planning services in the United States.
Reproductive Health Impact Study
A multiyear study on how federal and state policy changes from 2017–2024 affected access to publicly funded family planning care in four US states.
Contraceptive access is under attack on multiple fronts—from federal and state policies to court decisions—threatening both the systems that provide care and people’s ability to get the contraception they need.
The Trump administration and other policymakers at the federal level are attacking people’s access to contraception in the United States.
The Right to Contraception in the United States
Outlines the legal history, current protections, and ongoing legislative efforts to safeguard and expand the right to contraception at the state level.
Explores key state legislative trends early in 2025, including how states attempted to push contraception further out of reach for many people.
State Policy Trends 2024: Anti-Abortion Policymakers Redouble Attacks on Bodily Autonomy
Examines state policies across the sexual and reproductive rights landscape, including policies on contraception, that shaped access to care in 2024.
Insurance Coverage of Contraceptives
Explains how federal and state laws regulate insurance coverage of contraceptives, including current requirements, protections, and gaps in access across different types of health plans.
Minors’ Access to Contraceptive Services
An overview of state laws and policies governing minors’ ability to consent to and access contraceptive services, including confidentiality protections and legal trends.
Examine ongoing threats to the Title X program, a critical publicly funded program that provides family planning services for uninsured and low-income individuals.
Abortion restrictions have impacted contraceptive care and the systems that provide that care, particularly publicly funded family planning.
Abortion restrictions have also shaped contraceptive access and use.
The Guttmacher Institute conducts research and policy analysis on birth control use, access, policy changes, and legal challenges at the state and federal level. Explore all our resources on contraception in the United States, including peer-reviewed research, policy analyses, and major legislative updates at the state and federal level.
