Female contraceptive use in Sexual and Reproductive Health Services has risen after years of decline, new data shows
- Ella Wilson
- Mar 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 10
Ella Wilson
NHS data revealed a major shift in UK women’s contraceptive choices after an eight-year drop in sexual health service use.
The research, carried out yearly, tracks contraceptive activity taking place amongst all Sexual and Reproductive Health Services across the UK.
The data, revealed in September 2024, showed:
The number of females using Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for contraception in 2014-15 was 941,200, with this quickly decreasing to 456,900 by 2021-22. This shows a decline of 51.5% in just eight years.
However, this number has risen by 13.7% in recent years, slowly increasing up to 519,900 in 2023-24.
Responding to the findings, Dr. Judith Eberhardt, Associate Professor of Psychology (Research) at Teesside University, explained: “Funding cuts to sexual health services in the UK over the past decade have reduced accessibility, potentially contributing to the decline in contraceptive use. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to services, which might explain part of the trends.”
Nurse Angela Gray, Clinical Lead for Contraception at Primary Healthcare Darlington, believes the shift is also due to contraception being increasingly offered elsewhere.
She said: “Most people go to their GP for contraception and pharmacies are seeing a lot more patients. They can do a lot more than they used to, as they never used to see anybody. People get contraception online more, so they don’t come to clinics as much. A few years ago, you just had to come to a clinic to see a nurse.”
The data also highlighted an overall 66.3% drop in those opting for oral contraceptive as their primary method. Other methods remained relatively unchanged, such as the contraceptive patch, which had not changed, the implant, which saw a decrease of 26%, and intrauterine (IU) system, which increased by 19%.
Notably, the use of Long Action Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs), the term used for highly effective and easy-to-use forms of birth control that can last for years at a time, has surpassed user-dependent methods, including oral contraceptive tablets and condoms, in recent years. In 2014-15, 26% more females chose user-dependent contraceptives, yet in 2023-24, 8% more opted for LARCs.
A 21-year-old university student shared her reasons for recently switching her contraceptive method to the Kyleena coil, after using the contraceptive implant for 2 years, and the combined pill for 3 years prior.
She said: “I first chose the pill to purely regulate periods. When I got with my long-term partner, I decided I wanted something more permanent and reliable, so I got the implant. However, I didn’t like the side effects from this, so I am now currently on the Kyleena coil and it’s the best form of contraception I have been on as I don’t have to worry about taking anything, it’s not as hormonal as the implant and it can last for 5 years.”
While on the combined pill, she received her prescription from her GP. However, in 2021, she switched to a sexual health clinic, where she says the care is “so much better.”
Dr. Judith pointed to initiatives like the NHS Long Term Plan and public health campaigns aimed at improving access to LARCs as potential contributing factors as to why LARC usage has increased. She also highlighted the changing clinical recommendations that emphasise their effectiveness.
Nurse Angela supported this view, as she explained that healthcare professionals like herself actively encourage patients to choose LARCs due to their higher effectiveness.
She said: “The pill is good, but we know that most people don’t take it correctly, making them more at risk. LARCs are encouraged because they are 'fit and forget'.”
Julia Parsons, 20-year-old student at Leeds Beckett University, is in the minority of females who are still opting to use oral contraceptives, due to the freedom and impermanence of them.
She said: “I picked the pill for my periods mostly and you can control them better when you’re on the pill and for birth control. You can also stop the pill whenever too, but the coil and implant are a little harder to remove and more permanent.”
She stated that the only drawback she experiences is that she must pay for her prescriptions, whereas the other methods are free.
Comments