How is hormonal contraception use changing – and why?

Contraception use is changing. People are using the contraceptive pill less, but other types of hormonal contraception – like the implant and IUDs – seem to be on the rise. In our clinics, we’ve seen a gradual increase in non-hormonal options like the copper IUD. Meanwhile, on social media, wellness influencers are encouraging people to ditch hormonal contraception altogether and return to natural fertility tracking.

But from current data, it’s not clear how many people overall are choosing to move away from hormonal contraception – nor what they’re choosing instead. And it’s even less clear what or who is influencing their decisions.

As medical director Dr Beth Messenger explains, “We know people are online now more than ever before. And clients are coming to us with concerns about what they’ve seen on social media. But what we don’t know is to what extent the non-evidence-based information they’re seeing online is impacting their contraception choices. We also only currently know about those that come to see us.” Our latest survey – Hormonal Contraception: Knowledge, Experience, and Attitudes – aims to help us understand what’s happening more broadly.

Take part in the 10-minute survey to help us understand more about what people know, experience, and feel about hormonal contraceptive methods. You need to be:

• Over 16

• Living in New Zealand

You don’t need to be a Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa client to take part in the survey.

Take the survey