Contraceptive practice among American women, 1973-1982

During the decade 1973-1982, use of oral contraceptives declined sharply among wives aged 15-44, although the total number of pill users did not decrease after 1979. This drop occurred in all groups of wives examined. At the same time, the prevalence of female contraceptive sterilization rose sharply; this increase occurred mainly among wives aged 35 and older and, of course, among all wives intending no more children. Among other subgroups of married women, the fall in pill use was complemented by a smaller rise in the use of barrier methods--the condom and diaphragm, in particular. The contraceptive status and method choices of never-married and previously married women differed sharply from those of wives as of 1982. Sexually active never-married women were less likely than married women to practice contraception and were more likely to choose the pill when they did. Previously married women were also less likely than wives to practice contraception but, when using a method, were more likely than either never-married or currently married users to depend on one of the more effective methods--sterilization, the pill or the IUD.