Revealed: Men's Attitudes To Contraception, fpa Publishes Results Of National Survey, UK

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Men's health
Article Date: 11 Feb 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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An overwhelming 94% of men aged 18-45 years old in the UK agree that using contraception is the joint responsibility of men and women. Encouragingly, only a tiny fraction of men believe contraception is a woman's issue and that they have no control over pregnancy[1]. But, says fpa, many men still aren't putting their own contraceptive needs first. This is according to a new survey[2] investigating men's attitudes towards contraception, published today for fpa's annual Contraceptive Awareness Week[3] (11 - 17 February 2008).

fpa's Chief Executive Julie Bentley said: "It's fantastic that we can now say with confidence that men in the 'noughties' have very positive and modern attitudes towards contraception."

Asked to choose which statement about contraception they most agreed with, 60% of men said 'men and women should always discuss using contraception together' while 22% of men most agreed 'if a man doesn't want to get a woman pregnant he should use condoms every time he has sex.'

fpa's Chief Executive Julie Bentley said: "By thinking about using a condom first, this group of men are taking power and control of their own body to prevent pregnancy, completely independently of what women are doing. But these men are in the minority.

"Half of all pregnancies are unplanned.[4] We know that unplanned pregnancy can be as distressing for men as it can be for women. But once a woman is pregnant, men don't have any legal rights to veto her decisions about having an abortion or keeping the baby.

"The only real opportunity men have to exercise choice about what they want is at the contraception stage. Although talking about contraception with your partner is essential, it isn't the first step. fpa would like to see more men following the lead of this empowered group, who are thinking very positively about themselves and putting their own reproductive needs first."

The research also shows men would use hormonal contraceptive options in development like the male pill, with 36% of men saying they would use it, and 26% saying they didn't know if they would use it or not. Being married or single also doesn't affect whether men want to take the pill or not[5].

"We should be more confident about encouraging new contraceptive choices for men" said Julie. "Clearly they want to be involved. But almost half of men either told us they didn't have enough information (35%) about the 14 different types of contraception available[6] or didn't know (9%).

"Although there's been an increase in the numbers of men going to clinics,[7] many aren't going for their own needs - they're going to support women. We need new strategies encouraging men into mainstream contraceptive services - in clinics and GP surgeries.

"To help health professionals do this, fpa has produced guidance[8] on making contraceptive services more men-friendly. There are many easy and simple changes to services that health professionals can make which don't cost much time or money but have a huge impact on how inviting they are to men."

fpa (Family Planning Association) is the only registered charity working to improve the sexual health and reproductive rights of all people throughout the UK.

Notes:

[1] Asked 'which one of these statements do you most agree with' (Base men 18-45 not in same sex partnership)

- 2% said contraception is a woman's issue
- 5% said men have little control over whether a woman becomes pregnant or not.
- 5% said men don't talk about using contraception with their partner as much as they should
- 22% said if a man doesn't want to get a woman pregnant he should use condoms every time he has sex
- 60% said men and women should always discuss using contraception together.

[2] GFK/NOP World interviewed 621 men aged 18-45 on 6th-18th December 2007 and 10th-15th January 2008 in the United Kingdom. Weighting was applied to the data to bring it into line with national profiles.

[3] Contraceptive Awareness Week 2008 is themed The New Man. As part of the week, 2000 campaign packs have been sent out to health and other professionals. The first week was run in 1997 by fpa to raise awareness of the issues surrounding contraceptive choice. The campaign is hosted on fpa's website .

[4] O'Sullivan I, Keyse L, Park N, Diaper A, Short S. Contraception and Sexual Health, 2004/5. London, UK: Office for National Statistics, 2005.

[5] Answering, 'if a male hormonal contraceptive method became available (like the 'male pill') would you use it' 65% of single, widowed, separated and divorced men said yes or didn't know. 61% of married men said yes or didn't know.

[6] Answering 'do you think you know enough or have enough information about the 14 different types of contraceptive method that are available' 35% said no, 9% said they didn't know and 51% said yes.

[7] Since 1996 there has been a 48% increase in men's attendance at contraceptive clinics. NHS Report on contraceptive services in England 2006-7.

[8] Produced by fpa's national helpline, the guidelines for health professionals about how to attract men into contraceptive services can be downloaded here. The guidelines also formed part of the material for the free campaign packs.

Family Planning Association