Contraception and sterilization in the United States, 1965-1975

Abstract

Although the pill remains the most popular method of contraception among young married women, sterilization is now the method of choice among couples married a decade or more, as well as among couples who have had all the children they want. Indeed, contraceptive and medical sterilizations combined now comprise the most frequent barrier to conception among all married couples of reproductive age. Three-quarters of couples using contraception now use the most effective methods, the pill, sterilization or the IUD, and the trend data suggest a continuing increase in the reliance on such methods.