A survey of college students in the United States from the fall of 2023 found that the most common method of birth control among college students is the male condom, followed by birth control pills, and the withdrawal method. At that time, about half of college students in the U.S. reported they used a male condom to prevent pregnancy the last time they had vaginal intercourse, while 39 percent used birth control pills.
In 2019, around 49 percent of male and 39 percent of female high school students stated condoms were their primary contraceptive method. This was the most popular form of contraception among high school students, followed by birth control pills. Around 28 percent of high school students in grade 12 stated they used birth control pills as their primary method of birth control the last time they had sexual intercourse, compared to 26 percent of those in 11th grade, and 18 percent of 10th graders.
Percentage of U.S. college students that used select methods of birth control as of fall 2023*
Characteristic
Percentage of respondents
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* Original question: "Please indicate which of the following method(s) you or your partner used to prevent pregnancy the last time you had vaginal intercourse. (Please select ALL that apply)
(only includes students who used a method of pregnancy prevention the last time they had vaginal intercourse)."
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NCHA. (March 21, 2024). Percentage of U.S. college students that used select methods of birth control as of fall 2023* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 24, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/826564/methods-of-birth-control-us-college-students/
NCHA. "Percentage of U.S. college students that used select methods of birth control as of fall 2023*." Chart. March 21, 2024. Statista. Accessed August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/826564/methods-of-birth-control-us-college-students/
NCHA. (2024). Percentage of U.S. college students that used select methods of birth control as of fall 2023*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 24, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/826564/methods-of-birth-control-us-college-students/
NCHA. "Percentage of U.S. College Students That Used Select Methods of Birth Control as of Fall 2023*." Statista, Statista Inc., 21 Mar 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/826564/methods-of-birth-control-us-college-students/
NCHA, Percentage of U.S. college students that used select methods of birth control as of fall 2023* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/826564/methods-of-birth-control-us-college-students/ (last visited August 24, 2024)
Percentage of U.S. college students that used select methods of birth control as of fall 2023* [Graph], NCHA, March 21, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/826564/methods-of-birth-control-us-college-students/