Educational Resource
Fact Sheet: Greater Access to Contraception Does Not Reduce Abortions (2020)
Fact Sheet: Greater Access to Contraception Does Not Reduce Abortions, February 7, 2020
This USCCB fact sheet argues that expanding access to contraception has not been shown to reduce abortion rates and may sometimes be associated with increased risky sexual behavior, unintended pregnancies, or abortions.
Main arguments
- Contraception is already widely used: Contraceptive use in the United States is nearly universal among sexually experienced women and very high among women at risk of unintended pregnancy. Despite this widespread use, millions of abortions occurred during the same period.
- Contraception can fail: The fact sheet cites studies showing that unintended pregnancies occur even among contraceptive users because of method failure, inconsistent use, user error, drug interactions, and other factors. It states that many women obtaining abortions had been using contraception when they became pregnant.
- More access to contraception does not necessarily reduce abortions:
- The document reviews studies from the U.S., Britain, Spain, Sweden, and Texas showing little evidence that expanded contraceptive access lowers abortion rates.
- It discusses the concept of “risk compensation,” suggesting that some people may engage in riskier sexual behavior when they perceive pregnancy risk to be lower.
- Emergency contraception has not reduced population-level abortion rates: Citing a review of 23 studies, the fact sheet states that increased access to emergency contraception increased its use but did not reduce pregnancy or abortion rates at the population level.
- Concerns about long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs):
- The fact sheet raises ethical concerns about programs that strongly promote IUDs and implants, particularly among low-income populations.
- It also discusses potential side effects, reduced condom use, increased STD risk, and the fact that some methods may prevent embryo implantation.
- Declines in teen pregnancies and abortions are attributed primarily to reduced sexual activity:
- The fact sheet argues that decreases in teen pregnancy and abortion rates are more closely linked to declines in teen sexual activity than to increased contraceptive use.
- It cites studies showing reduced rates of sexual activity among adolescents and suggests delaying sexual activity as a key factor in preventing pregnancy.
The fact sheet concludes that greater access to contraception has not been proven to reduce abortion rates, that contraceptive failure and behavioral responses may limit its effectiveness, and that declining sexual activity among teens has played a more significant role in reducing pregnancies and abortions. It advocates approaches emphasizing abstinence or delayed sexual activity rather than increased reliance on contraceptive programs.