NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 327 ■ December 2018

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Current Contraceptive Status Among Women Aged 15–49: 

United States, 2015–2017

Kimberly Daniels, Ph.D., and Joyce C. Abma, Ph.D.

Key findings

Data from the 2015–2017 

National Survey of Family 

Growth

● In 2015–2017, 64.9% of the 

72.2 million women aged 

15–49 in the United States were 

currently using contraception. 

The most common contraceptive 

methods currently used were 

female sterilization (18.6%), 

oral contraceptive pill (12.6%), 

long-acting reversible 

contraceptives (LARCs) (10.3%), 

and male condom (8.7%).

● Use of LARCs was higher 

among women aged 20–29 

(13.1%) compared with women 

aged 15–19 (8.2%) and 40–49 

(6.7%); use was also higher 

among women aged 30–39 

(11.7%) compared with those 

aged 40–49. 

● Current condom use did not 

differ among non-Hispanic 

white, non-Hispanic black, 

and Hispanic women (about 

7%–10%).

● Female sterilization declined 

and use of the pill increased 

with higher education. Use of 

LARCs did not differ across 

education (about 10%–12%).

Nearly all women use contraception in their lifetimes (1), although at any 

given time, they may not be using contraception for reasons such as seeking 

pregnancy, being pregnant, or not being sexually active. Using data from the 

2015–2017 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), this report provides 

a snapshot of current contraceptive status, in the month of interview, among 

women aged 15–49 in the United States. In addition to describing use of any 

method by age, Hispanic origin and race, and education, patterns of use are 

described for the four most commonly used contraceptive methods: female 

sterilization; oral contraceptive pill; long-acting reversible contraceptives 

(LARCs), which include contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices; and 

male condom.

In 2015–2017, approximately 65% of women aged 15–49 were 

currently using contraception.

Figure 1. Percentage currently using any contraceptive method among all women aged 15–49 

and by age group, Hispanic origin and race, and education: United States, 2015–2017

1

Includes persons of other and multiple race and origin groups, not shown separately.

2

Significant linear trend across all four age groups. 3Significantly different from non-Hispanic black women.

NOTES: The population size referenced for women aged 15–49 is 72.2 million. Analyses of education are limited to women aged 

22–44 at the time of interview. Less than high school is no high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED); B.A. is 

bachelor’s degree. Access data table for Figure 1 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db327_tables-508.pdf#1.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2015–2017.

0

Percent

20 40 60 80

75.6

70.3

70.2

68.2

64.9

37.2

61.9

72.0

73.7

64.0

67.0

59.9

Hispanic

Non-Hispanic white3

Non-Hispanic black

Less than high school

High school or GED

B.A. or higher

Some college, no B.A.

Total1

15–192

20–292

30–392

40–492
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 327 ■ December 2018

■  2  ■

● In 2015–2017, 64.9%—or 46.9 million of the 72.2 million women aged 15–49 in the 

United States—were currently using a method of contraception (Figure 1).

● Current contraceptive use increased with age, from 37.2% among women aged 15–19 to 

73.7% among women aged 40–49.

● The percentage of non-Hispanic white women currently using contraception (67.0%) was 

higher compared with non-Hispanic black women (59.9%), but not different from the 

percentage for Hispanic women (64.0%).

● Current contraceptive use did not differ significantly across education (68%–76%). 

Female sterilization, the pill, the condom, and LARCs were the most 

common methods women reported currently using.

● The most common contraceptive methods currently used in the overall age range 15–49 

were female sterilization (18.6%), pill (12.6%), LARCs (10.3%), and male condom (8.7%) 

(Figure 2).

● Approximately 35% of women aged 15–49 were not currently using contraception.

Figure 2. Percent distribution of women aged 15–49, by current contraceptive status: United States, 2015–2017

1

Additional categories of nonusers, such as nonsurgical sterility, are shown in the accompanying data table.

2

Other methods grouped in this category are shown in the accompanying data table.

NOTES: Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. Women currently using more than one method are classified according to the most effective method 

they are using. Long-acting reversible contraceptives include contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices. Access data table for Figure 2 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db327_tables-508.pdf#2.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2015–2017. Percent

35.1% of 

women not 

currently using 

contraception

Never had sexual intercourse or did not have 

sex in past 3 months

Pregnant, postpartum, or seeking pregnancy

Nonuser who had sexual intercourse in 

past 3 months

All other nonusers1

64.9% of 

women 

currently using 

contraception

100

80

60

40

20

0

Female sterilization

Male sterilization

Oral contraceptive pill

All other contraceptive methods2

17.0

7.5

7.9

2.7

18.6

5.9

8.7 Male condom

5.6

12.6

Long-acting reversible contraceptives

3.2 Depo-Provera, contraceptive ring, or patch

10.3

Current contraceptive status
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 327 ■ December 2018

■  3  ■

Current use of female sterilization, the pill, the condom, and LARCs varied 

by age.

● Female sterilization increased with increasing age (Figure 3). About 1 in 20 women aged 

20–29 (4.2%), 1 in 5 women aged 30–39 (21.6%), and nearly 2 in 5 women aged 40–49 

(39.4%) were relying on female sterilization for contraception.

● Pill use decreased with increasing age: 16.6% of women aged 15–19 were currently using 

the pill compared with 19.5% of women aged 20–29, 11.0% of those aged 30–39, and 5.1% 

of those aged 40–49.

● The percentages of women aged 20–29 (11.6%) and 30–39 (10.6%) who were using the 

condom were not different; use was lower among women aged 15–19 (5.3%) and 40–49 

(5.2%). 

● Use of LARCs was higher among women aged 20–29 (13.1%) compared with women aged 

15–19 (8.2%) and 40–49 (6.7%), but did not differ from use among women aged 30–39 

(11.7%). Use was also higher among women 30–39 (11.7%) compared with women aged 

40–49 (6.7%).

Figure 3. Percentage of all women aged 15–49 who were currently using female sterilization, oral contraceptive pill, male 

condom, or long-acting reversible contraceptives, by age group: United States, 2015–2017

† No cases of female sterilization were found among those aged 15–19.

1

Significant linear trend.

2

Percentages for age groups 20–29 and 30–39 are significantly different from that for 15–19. Percentages for age groups 20–29 and 30–39 are significantly 

different from that for 40–49.

3

Percentages for age groups 15–19 and 40–49 are significantly different from that for 20–29. Percentage for age group 30–39 is significantly different from that 

for 40–49. 

NOTES: Women currently using more than one method are classified according to the most effective method they are using. Long-acting reversible contraceptives 

include contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices. Access data table for Figure 3 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db327_tables-508.pdf#3. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2015–2017.

40

30

20

10

0

Percent

15–19 20–29 30–39 40–49

Pill1

16.6

19.5

11.0

5.1

Condom2

5.3

11.6 10.6

5.2

Long-acting reversible 

contraceptives3

8.2

13.1

11.7

6.7

Female sterilization1

†

39.4

21.6

4.2
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 327 ■ December 2018

■  4  ■

Current use of the pill varied by Hispanic origin and race.

● Female sterilization ranged from 18.1% to 22.9% according to Hispanic origin and race 

group. The observed difference between non-Hispanic black women and non-Hispanic 

white or Hispanic women was not statistically significant (Figure 4). 

● Current use of the pill was higher among non-Hispanic white women (14.9%) than among 

Hispanic (9.2%) and non-Hispanic black women (8.3%).

● Current condom use did not differ by Hispanic origin and race, at around 7%–10%.

● Current use of LARCs did not differ by Hispanic origin and race, at around 10%–12%.

Figure 4. Percentage of all women aged 15–49 who were currently using female sterilization, oral contraceptive pill, male 

condom, or long-acting reversible contraceptives, by Hispanic origin and race: United States, 2015–2017 

1

Percentages for Hispanic and non-Hispanic black are significantly different from percentage for non-Hispanic white.

NOTES: Women currently using more than one method are classified according to the most effective method they are using. Long-acting reversible contraceptives 

include contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices. Access data table for Figure 4 at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db327_tables-508.pdf#4.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2015–2017.

25

20

15

10

0

5

Percent

Hispanic Non-Hispanic white Non-Hispanic black

Pill1 Condom Long-acting reversible 

contraceptives

Female sterilization

19.2

18.1

22.9

9.2

14.9

8.3

9.6

8.5

6.8

12.2

10.6

9.6
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 327 ■ December 2018

■  5  ■

Current use of female sterilization, the pill, and the condom varied by 

education, while LARC use did not.

● Female sterilization declined with higher education; for example, 32.1% of women with a 

high school diploma or general equivalency diploma (GED) were using female sterilization 

for contraceptive reasons compared with 11.3% of women with a bachelor’s degree or 

higher (Figure 5). 

● Current pill use increased with higher education—4.9% of women without a high school 

diploma or GED were using the pill compared with 16.3% of women with a bachelor’s 

degree or higher.

● The percentage of women using condoms was lower among women with a high school 

diploma or GED (5.8%) compared with women without a high school diploma or GED 

(11.1%) and women with a bachelor’s degree or higher (11.4%).

● Use of LARCs did not differ by education (10%–12%).

Figure 5. Percentage of all women aged 22–49 who were currently using female sterilization, oral contraceptive pill, male 

condom, or long-acting reversible contraceptives, by educational attainment: United States, 2015–2017 

1

Significant linear trend.

2

Percentages for no high school diploma or GED and bachelor’s degree or higher are significantly different from that for high school diploma or GED.

NOTES: Women currently using more than one method are classified according to the most effective method they are using. Long-acting reversible contraceptives 

include contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices. GED is general equivalency diploma. Access data table for Figure 5 at: 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db327_tables-508.pdf#5.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Survey of Family Growth, 2015–2017.

50

40

30

20

0

10

Percent

Bachelor's degree 

or higher

Some college, 

no bachelor's degree

High school diploma 

or GED

No high school 

diploma or GED

Pill1 Condom2 Long-acting reversible 

contraceptives

Female sterilization1

41.9

32.1

23.7

11.3

4.9

7.0

10.1

16.3

11.1

5.8

8.4

11.4 10.0 10.1 9.9

12.1
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 327 ■ December 2018

■  6  ■

Summary

In 2015–2017, approximately 65% of women aged 15–49 were using some type of contraceptive 

method, while 35% were not currently using a method. As shown in Figure 2, most women who 

were not using contraception had reasons for not doing so, such as seeking pregnancy, being 

pregnant or postpartum, or not being sexually active. Current use of any method of contraception 

was higher among older women and non-Hispanic white women compared with younger women 

and non-Hispanic black women. The most commonly used methods were female sterilization 

(18.6%), pill (12.6%), LARCs (10.3%), and male condom (8.7%). Use of these methods varied 

across age, Hispanic origin and race, and education. 

Understanding variation in contraceptive use across social and demographic characteristics offers 

potential insight into larger fertility patterns, including birth rates and incidence of unintended 

pregnancies. The chance that a woman not seeking a pregnancy will have an unintended 

pregnancy varies by whether any method of contraception is used and which method she or her 

partner uses (2). This report provides a snapshot of current contraceptive status among women 

aged 15–49 in the United States using the most recent data available from NSFG in an effort to 

increase understanding of contraceptive use.

Definitions

Age: The respondent’s age at the time of the interview. The recode variable used was AGER.

Current contraceptive status: Measures contraceptive status in the month of the interview (not 

at a specific act of sexual intercourse). This variable includes either use of specific methods or, 

if the woman did not use a method in the month of interview, nonuse of contraceptive methods 

using the following subcategories: pregnant, seeking pregnancy, postpartum, noncontraceptive 

sterility, sexual inactivity (ever or in the past 3 months), or sexually active in the past 3 months 

and no method used in the month of interview. If a woman was not sexually active but used 

a noncoital-dependent method of contraception (e.g., LARC or female sterilization), she is 

classified according to the method she used. In this report, as in prior NSFG reports (3), women 

who were currently using more than one method are classified by the method that was most 

effective in preventing pregnancy, because that method has the greatest impact on their risk of 

unintended pregnancy. For example, women who report using both oral contraceptive pills and 

male condoms in the current month are classified as using pills, because pills are more effective at 

preventing a pregnancy. In 2015–2017, 10.1% of women who were currently using contraception 

used more than one contraceptive method during the same month. The recode variable used 

was CONSTAT1. Although not done in this report, the set of recodes CONSTAT1–CONSTAT4 

(for each method used in the month of interview) also allows for analyses of any use of each 

specific method.

Education: Educational attainment at the time of interview, indicating the highest degree or grade 

finished. Results are presented only for women aged 22 and over because many younger women 

have not completed their education (79.8% of women aged 15–21 were in school at the time of 

interview, analysis not shown). The recode variable used was HIEDUC. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 327 ■ December 2018

■  7  ■

Hispanic origin and race: The 1997 Office of Management and Budget guidelines for the 

presentation of race and Hispanic-origin data in federal statistics are used for these classifications 

(4). The guidelines allowing respondents to report more than one race or ethnic origin are 

followed in the recode variable, HISPRACE2. Due to the diversity of women categorized as 

non-Hispanic other single and multiple race, those results are not shown separately here, and the 

report presents separate results only for women who are Hispanic, non-Hispanic white single 

race, and non-Hispanic black single race.

Data source and methods

This report is based on data from the 5,554 women in the female respondent file of the 

2015–2017 NSFG. The 2015–2017 NSFG is the first data file released since the age range was 

expanded from 15–44 to 15–49 in September 2015. Some estimates of current contraceptive use 

for the 15–44 age range for 2015–2017 data are provided on the NSFG key statistics webpage 

to allow for comparisons with past years, available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/key_

statistics.htm. Among other information, NSFG provides detailed information about contraceptive 

use among U.S. women aged 15–49. The fieldwork plan, interview content, and other survey 

procedures are similar to previous surveys (5). NSFG is jointly planned and funded by the 

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and several other programs of the U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services. All estimates in this report are weighted to reflect the female 

household population aged 15–49 of the United States at the midpoint of 2015–2017 interviewing 

(July 2016). The response rate for the 2015–2017 NSFG was 65.3% overall, 66.7% for female 

respondents, and 63.6% for male respondents.

Statistics for this report were produced using the SURVEY procedures in SAS software version 

9.3. Percentages were compared using two-tailed t tests at the 5% level. No adjustments were 

made for multiple comparisons. A weighted least squares regression was used to test differences 

across age and education. The data presented in this report are bivariate associations that may 

be explained by other factors not controlled for in the figures or included in the report. For 

example, women at older ages are more likely to have completed their childbearing compared 

with women at younger ages. Therefore, women at younger ages would be more likely to choose 

nonpermanent contraceptive methods including the pill, condom, and LARCs compared with 

female sterilization, a mostly permanent form of contraception (2). All estimates presented meet 

NCHS guidelines for presentation of proportions (6).

About the authors

Kimberly Daniels and Joyce C. Abma are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division 

of Vital Statistics, Reproductive Statistics Branch.

References

1. Daniels K, Mosher WD, Jones J. Contraceptive methods women have ever used: 

United States, 1982–2010. National Health Statistics Reports; no 62. Hyattsville, MD: National 

Center for Health Statistics. 2013. 

2. Trussell J. Contraceptive failure in the United States. Contraception 83(5):397–404. 2011.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 327 ■ December 2018

3. Daniels K, Daugherty J, Jones J, Mosher W. Current contraceptive 

use and variation by selected characteristics among women aged 15–44: 

United States, 2011–2013. National Health Statistics Reports; no 86. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2015.

4. Office of Management and Budget. Revisions to the standards 

for the classification of federal data on race and ethnicity. Fed Regist 

62(210):58782–90. 1997. Available from: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/

FR-1997-10-30/pdf/97-28653.pdf.

5. National Center for Health Statistics. 2013–2015 National Survey of 

Family Growth (NSFG): Summary of design and data collection methods. 

Hyattsville, MD. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nsfg/

NSFG_2013-2015_Summary_Design_Data_Collection.pdf.

6. Parker JD, Talih M, Malec DJ, Beresovsky V, Carroll M, Gonzalez JF Jr, 

et al. National Center for Health Statistics Data Presentation Standards for 

Proportions. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(175). 

2017.

Keywords: pill • condom • LARC • National Survey of Family Growth

Suggested citation

Daniels K, Abma JC. Current contraceptive 

status among women aged 15–49: 

United States, 2015–2017. NCHS Data 

Brief, no 327. Hyattsville, MD: National 

Center for Health Statistics. 2018.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Steven Schwartz, Ph.D., Director

Hanyu Ni, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Director 

for Science

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