Since 2005, the use of the contraceptive pill has been declining. A “growing disaffection“, according to researchers from Inserm and ANRS, authors of a vast study on the sexuality of the French published on November 13, 2024, which is explained in particular by the revelations of 2012 on the dangers represented by pills of 3rd and 4th generation.
In 2023, according to data collected by researchers, 91.0% of women aged 18 to 49 use a method of contraception. Among them, 27.7% use an IUD or IUD (intrauterine device), 26.8% the pill, 18.6% the condom. In total, 9.0% of these women say they do not use any method of contraception.
7.5% of French women use “natural” methods
“In 2005, recall the authors of the Inserm studymore than half of women (55.8%) used the contraceptive pill, but this proportion dropped to 36.4% in 2016, then to 26.8% in 2023. At the same time, women use more often the intrauterine device (IUD or IUD), which will become the most used method in 2023 (27.7%), or the condom (18.6%).“The data collected does not differentiate between the use of the hormonal or copper IUD.
Other barrier methods and “natural“such as withdrawal, calculation of dates, method”ogino“, the diaphragm will represent 7.5% of practices in 2023. The data collected shows that the contraceptive implant remains “marginal” in 2023, with 4.4% of users.
Among women between 18 and 49 years old who have heterosexual relations without having the desire to become pregnant and without proven fertility problems, it is among 18-29 year olds that these developments are “particularly pronounced“.
Among 30-49 year olds, the pill also drops
In this age group, the use of the pill “fell 17.7 points“, going from 54.3% in 2016 to 36.6% in 2023. However, the pill is still more used than the IUD despite its increasing use. It was at 10.9% in 2016 and 19.3% in 2023. The use of condoms is also increasing: 18.6% in 2016 compared to 22.3% in 2023. Finally, in In 2016, 4.3% of women between 18 and 29 years old did not have a means of contraception, this will rise to 8.7% in 2023. A minority proportion but growing.
Among 30-49 year olds, the pill is also falling: 26.9% of them used it in 2016, there will be 21.7 in 2023. The use of condoms is increasing slightly. Finally, adolescent girls between 15 and 17 years old mainly use the pill in 2023 for 48.4%, the condom for 30%, the so-called “methods”.natural” for 6.2%. 13% do not use any means of contraception.
