Contraceptive behaviour of adults and adolescents 2024. In focus: 18- to 49-year-olds
Use of contraceptives
Contraceptive use at record high
In 2024, 76 percent of sexually active respondents report using contraception. Thus, the contraceptive use is at its highest level since 2011. At the same time, 16 percent deliberately choose not to use contraception – a significant decrease in recent years.
Contraceptive behaviour is largely influenced by the respondents’ age
Contraceptive behaviour continues to differ significantly according to age. Young adults between the adults, ages 18 to 29, are the most likely to use contraception, at 88 percent. In the middle age group of 30- to 39-year-olds, use of contraceptives is significantly less often. At 70 percent, it has remained stable at a comparatively low level since 2011.
The current survey shows a significant increase among 40- to 49-year-olds: 74 percent of this age group use contraception. This increase can be explained in part by the fact that only 5 percent left the question about contraception methods unanswered, compared to 10 percent in 2023. In addition, the proportion of those who consciously refrain from using contraception has fallen: in 2023, it was 26 percent, compared to only 17 percent currently (2018: 33 percent).
Among respondents under the age of 30, significantly fewer (8 percent) do not use contraception than the over-30s. Most people who do not use contraception are in the middle age group of 30 to 39-year-olds – here the figure is 23 percent. Looking at the reasons for not using contraception, the counterpart becomes apparent: the desire to have children or an existing pregnancy are most frequently cited as reasons for not using contraception.
The pill is losing importance – other contraceptive methods are gaining ground
A comparison of the methods used reveals a fundamental change. Condoms and the pill remain the most cited contraceptives. However, the pill has been losing ground significantly for several years and is now only used by around a third of those who use contraception – a downward trend that can be seen across all age groups. At the same time, the use of other contraceptive methods is increasing, especially the coil. Many respondents are increasingly critical of hormonal contraceptives and concerned about their impact on health. 62 percent of those using contraception are convinced that hormonal contraception “has a negative impact on mind and body”. In 2018, only 45 percent shared this view. Health compatibility is becoming an increasingly important factor when choosing a suitable method of contraception.
Reliable contraceptive protection remains the main criterion when choosing a method.
When choosing a contraceptive, protection against unwanted pregnancy remains the most important criterion. At the same time, health-related motives are becoming increasingly important. Medical recommendations play a greater role in the decision today than they did a few years ago, especially among young adults. Cost is rarely an obstacle, but it does influence the choice of contraceptive somewhat more frequently among women and younger respondents.
Men pay more attention to the safety of a contraceptive, while women emphasise health aspects.
The reasons for choosing a contraceptive differ significantly between men and women. For men, the safety aspect is more important than for women (43 % compared to 34 %). Women place greater value on health-related factors: good tolerability is more often a decisive criterion for them (29% compared to 21%). In addition, 13 percent of women who use contraception report specific intolerances or reject hormonal contraception on principle – half as many men (7 %) do so.
Use of the “morning-after pill”
The “morning-after pill” is rarely used more than once
About 30 percent of sexually active people report that they or their partner have used the “morning-after pill”. In most cases, it is a one-time use. There is no evidence that emergency contraception replaces regular contraception.
When age and gender are combined, it becomes apparent that sexually active women aged 30 to 39 have the highest usage experience (42%), while men aged 40 and above have had the least contact with the morning-after pill (8%).
A higher level of education is also related with more frequent use: among those with a high school diploma or university degree, the proportion is 37 percent, compared to 23 percent among those without such qualifications. Among men, the difference according to educational attainment is 10 percentage points. Among women, it is as high as 16 points. The proportion of multiple users (more than three times) is also higher among people with higher educational qualifications (3 percent compared to 1 percent).
