Contraceptive use among women in England 2021/22, by type and age

In the period 2021/22, 56 percent of women in England aged 16 and 17 years who were in contact with sexual health services were using user dependent contraceptives, compared to 44 percent who were using long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). It is visible that younger age groups were more likely to use user dependent contraceptives compared to older age groups.

Contact with sexual health services

In total, over 1.9 million women in England contacted NHS sexual and reproductive health services for contraceptive reasons in the period 2020/21. The age group with the highest number of women contacting the service was those aged 25-34 years.

Types of contraception used

Across the whole United Kingdom in 2018, the birth control pill was the most common method of contraception for women aged between 15 and 49 years, with 28 percent using it as their main method. Across Europe, the UK had the seventh highest share of women in the country using the pill as their main method of contraception, with Czechia having the highest share at 54 percent of women in the country using the pill.