Contraceptive use among women in England by type and age 2022/23

In the period 2022/23, 58 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 42 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.

Distribution of women using user dependent and long lasting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) in England in 2022/23, by age

Age in years	User Dependent	LARCs
All ages	45%	55%
45 and over	32%	68%
35-44	35%	65%
25-34	45%	55%
20-24	51%	49%
18-19	56%	44%
16-17	58%	42%
Under 16	57%	43%

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Release date

September 2023

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Region

United Kingdom (England)

Survey time period

Apr 1, 2022 to Mar 31, 2023

Supplementary notes

Note: This analysis is not necessarily representative of the uptake of contraception methods across the whole population. Contraceptives can be obtained from other sources such as GPs or direct from pharmacies, whilst non-prescription items like condoms can be obtained easily without a visit to a medical specialist.

User dependent contraceptives include oral contraceptives, male condom, female condom, the contraceptive patch, spermicides, vaginal ring and natural family planning.
LARCs (Long acting reversible contraceptives) include Inter-Uterine Devices (IUD), Intra Uterine System (IUS) injectable contraceptive and implants.

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