Contraceptive Behaviour of Adults 2023
Representative Survey
Contraceptives used
In 2023, 38 percent of the respondents used the contraceptive pill, compared to 55 percent in 2007. At 53 percent, condoms were used significantly more often for contraception than the pill for the first time since 2007 (36 percent). This fundamental development in contraceptive behaviour is based on a more and more critical attitude towards hormonal contraception. Other contraceptive methods are hardly relevant because they are used only by a comparatively small proportion of the contraceptive-using population between 18 and 49 years of age.
Attitudes towards hormonal contraception
Hormonal contraception is viewed more and more critically, especially by young women using the pill.
The rejecting of hormonal contraception is a widespread attitude today among the sexually active population: 61 percent of women and men agree with the statement that using hormonal contraception “is negative for body and mind”; compared to 48 percent in 2018. 15 percent of women who use contraceptive methods state that they generally reject the contraceptive pill or hormonal contraception. Twelve years ago, only 1 percent of women made this statement.
In particular, younger respondents are critical of using hormones. The decline in using the contraceptive pill is particularly pronounced among respondents aged 18 to 29 years. Among them the proportion pill users has fallen from 72 to 46 percent in the last twelve years. At the same time 18 percent of young adults use the copper coil (IUD), that is a significant increase of 3 percent compared to 2011.
Good tolerability and reliability of contraceptive methods are very important
Reliability is an important aspect for 39 percent of the sexually active adults when choosing a contraceptive method. For 30 percents of the respondents the ease of use is important. Meanwhile, for 25 percents, good tolerability for the body is one of the most important factors when choosing a contraceptive method.
The proportion of respondents, who use contraception, is almost unchanged at 70 percent 2023 compared to 71 percent in 2018. With increasing age and the more likely a desire to have a child contraceptive methods change.
Cost of contraceptive methods plays an important role for 19 percent of female and male respondents. This is confirmed by 30 percent of women, 3 percent of the youngest respondents and 39 percent with a low disposable income.
Contraceptive methods used: informational behaviour
Respondents feel well informed
Concerning their personal level of knowledge of the contraceptive method used, 94 percent of the 18- to 49-year-olds consider themselves as well informed (“very good”, “good”). For 73 percent of female respondents the gynaecological advice is by far the most important source of information about contraceptive method used.
The Internet as an important source of information
More and more people use the internet to get information about the contraceptive method used. In 2018, for 40 percent of men and 29 percent of women the internet is one of the most important sources of information on this topic. In 2023, 49 percent of men and 47 percent of women prefer the internet. First time ever, the internet is the most used source of information for men.
