According to one national survey, approximately 50% of Australian women experience an unplanned pregnancy during their reproductive lifetime. This is despite the fact that approximately 70% of Australian women are currently using contraception and up to 85% of women have ever used contraception. The majority of these unintended pregnancies result from either not using contraception or using it incorrectly during sex,with only a small proportion resulting from contraceptive failure.
Despite advances in contraception, including an increased variety of high efficacy methods, surveys show that Australia is still lagging behind in its use of contraception compared to the rest of the developed world.
Contraceptive methods used
The oral contraceptive pill has been available in Australia for over 50 years and remains the most popular form of contraception used by Australian women (27-34%), followed by condom use (20-23%). Despite the fact that long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) options including the implant, IUDs and injection all have higher efficacy rates, they are used by very few women in Australia. For example, in the BEACH study of female patients aged 12-54 years who consulted a GP for contraception, 69% of those prescribed were for oral contraception, compared to 15% prescribed for any type of LARC. In addition, in comparison with other developed countries Australia is lagging behind on its use of LARC, with IUD use in Australia at approximately 0.8% compared to 9.8% on average in other developed countries.
Figure 1: Estimates of contraceptive methods used throughout Australia
Interestingly, when the data is broken down by Australian territory, the use of oral contraceptives and condoms are less common in the Northern Territory compared to the other states (Figure 2). In addition, the Northern Territory shows a higher frequency of LARC and sterilisation being used to prevent pregnancy, and has the highest prevalence of current use of contraception at 79%.
Figure 2: Type of contraceptive method by Australian state and territory, 2011
Additionally, the proportion of women who have ever used emergency contraception ranged from 19-27%, with only 0.4% of women reporting that emergency contraception was one of the methods they used to prevent pregnancy. Nonetheless, over-the-counter access to emergency contraception has not decreased the number of unintended pregnancy or abortion rates in Australia. This is likely attributed to lack of knowledge regarding availability without a doctors visit and efficacy beyond 24 hours after unprotected sex.
Contraception use by age
Oral contraception and condoms are the most commonly reported methods of contraception for all age groups except those over 40 years of age, and the proportion of women reporting using these methods declined with increasing age. On the other hand, partner sterilisation increased from the age of 35 years. This is likely due to the changes in family dynamics as older women have finished their families and look to a longer-acting contraceptive method.
Figure 3: Choice of contraceptive methods by age group, 2011
Resources
The data presented in this article represents some of the main findings of the resource from the family planning alliance of NSW which summarises data collated from various surveys on contraception use. For more information and the full report please click here.
Despite advances in contraception, including an increased variety of high efficacy methods, surveys show that Australia is still lagging behind in its use of contraception compared to the rest of the developed world.
Contraceptive methods used
The oral contraceptive pill has been available in Australia for over 50 years and remains the most popular form of contraception used by Australian women (27-34%), followed by condom use (20-23%). Despite the fact that long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) options including the implant, IUDs and injection all have higher efficacy rates, they are used by very few women in Australia. For example, in the BEACH study of female patients aged 12-54 years who consulted a GP for contraception, 69% of those prescribed were for oral contraception, compared to 15% prescribed for any type of LARC. In addition, in comparison with other developed countries Australia is lagging behind on its use of LARC, with IUD use in Australia at approximately 0.8% compared to 9.8% on average in other developed countries.
Figure 1: Estimates of contraceptive methods used throughout Australia
Interestingly, when the data is broken down by Australian territory, the use of oral contraceptives and condoms are less common in the Northern Territory compared to the other states (Figure 2). In addition, the Northern Territory shows a higher frequency of LARC and sterilisation being used to prevent pregnancy, and has the highest prevalence of current use of contraception at 79%.
Figure 2: Type of contraceptive method by Australian state and territory, 2011
Additionally, the proportion of women who have ever used emergency contraception ranged from 19-27%, with only 0.4% of women reporting that emergency contraception was one of the methods they used to prevent pregnancy. Nonetheless, over-the-counter access to emergency contraception has not decreased the number of unintended pregnancy or abortion rates in Australia. This is likely attributed to lack of knowledge regarding availability without a doctors visit and efficacy beyond 24 hours after unprotected sex.
Contraception use by age
Oral contraception and condoms are the most commonly reported methods of contraception for all age groups except those over 40 years of age, and the proportion of women reporting using these methods declined with increasing age. On the other hand, partner sterilisation increased from the age of 35 years. This is likely due to the changes in family dynamics as older women have finished their families and look to a longer-acting contraceptive method.
Figure 3: Choice of contraceptive methods by age group, 2011
Resources
The data presented in this article represents some of the main findings of the resource from the family planning alliance of NSW which summarises data collated from various surveys on contraception use. For more information and the full report please click here.
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