Contraceptive practices and trends in France

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Contraceptive use in France has evolved significantly over three decades.
• Changing patterns necessitate updated understanding, especially with rising concerns about sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine current contraceptive practice trends in France in the 1990s.
• To compare contemporary contraceptive use with historical data from 1978 and 1988.

Main Methods:

• A 1994 Fertility and Family Survey included 5,900 French households.
• Respondents provided data on contraceptive methods and family formation.
• Results were benchmarked against prior surveys from 1978 and 1988.

Main Results:

• In 1994, two-thirds of French women used reversible contraception.
• Oral contraceptive prevalence increased to 40% (from 28% in 1978).
• Condom use rose to nearly 8% (from 5-6% previously), while IUD use declined to 16% (from 19% in 1988).

Conclusions:

• French contraceptive behavior is distinct, marked by high oral contraceptive use across age groups and significant IUD usage.
• Sterilization rates remain low for both males and females.
• Condom use has increased recently, particularly for initial sexual encounters.