Changing Sociodemographic Factors and Teen Fertility: 1991-2009.

This study analyzed the roles of trends in sociodemographic factors known to be related to the risk of a teen birth. The goal was to analyze the roles of these trends in maternal education, family structure and mother's age at first birth in the likelihood of adolescents becoming teen mothers across multiple birth cohorts of women covering the years since 1991. Data are from the 1995, 2002, 2006-2010 and 2011-2013 National Surveys of Family Growth (NSFG). Consecutive birth cohorts of female respondents were constructed and retrospectively followed to estimate the risk of a teen birth for each cohort. Logistic regression models estimate the odds of a teen birth across cohorts and within strata of the predictors across cohorts. Maternal education rose across cohorts; the proportion who were non-Hispanic white declined. In general, the likelihood of an adolescent birth did not change within categories of the predictors that are considered at higher risk for a teen birth across birth cohorts. Specifically, there was no change in the odds of a teen birth among women whose mothers did not finish high school, those born to teen mothers and those not from two-parent families. The odds of a birth declined across cohorts for black women. The findings suggest that much of the decline in teen birth rates is due to declines in the proportion of teens in higher risk categories, rather than to declines within those categories.

Contraceptive Methods Women Have Ever Used:United States, 2015-2019.

Objective-This report describes methods of contraception ever used by U.S. women ages 15-49 who had ever had sexual intercourse with a male partner. Estimates are shown overall and by Hispanic origin and race, education, religious affiliation and importance, and urban-rural residence. Discontinuation of selected contraceptive methods is also described. Methods-This report focuses on information collected from the 11,695 women ages 15-49 interviewed in the 2015-2019 National Survey of Family Growth, a nationally representative survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Most estimates shown are based on data on contraceptive methods ever used by the 10,122 interviewed women who had ever had sexual intercourse with a male partner. Results-Based on 2015-2019 data, virtually all women of reproductive age who had ever had sexual intercourse with a male partner used at least one contraceptive method at some point in their life up to the time of interview (99.2%, or 63.2 million women ages 15-49), including 87.8% who had ever used a "most or moderately effective reversible method": the pill, an injectable, contraceptive patch, contraceptive ring, contraceptive implant, or intrauterine device. Most women had used the male condom with a partner (94.5%), the pill (79.8%), or withdrawal (65.7%). About one in four women reported ever using long-acting reversible contraception (intrauterine device or contraceptive implant) (24.9%) or emergency contraception (23.5%). The type of methods ever used varied by Hispanic origin and race, nativity among Hispanic women, education, religious affiliation and importance, and urban-rural residence. Among women who had ever discontinued use of the pill or intrauterine devices due to dissatisfaction (and not for seeking a pregnancy), side effects were the most common reason.

Teenagers in the United States: Sexual Activity,Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing, 2015-2019.

Objective-This report presents national estimates of sexual activity and contraceptive use among males and females ages 15-19 in the United States, based on data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). Methods-NSFG data were collected through in-person interviews with nationally representative samples of males and females ages 15-49 in the household population of the United States. NSFG 2015-2019 interviews were conducted between September 2015 and September 2019 with 21,441 males and females, including 3,812 teenagers (1,894 females and 1,918 males ages 15-19). Estimates include measures of sexual experience and contraceptive use as well as circumstances of first sexual intercourse (sex), attitudes, and probability of a birth during the teen years. Estimates are shown overall and by Hispanic origin and race, age group, parental living arrangements, and maternal characteristics. The report focuses on the period 2015-2019, with trends shown for selected measures for time points 2002, 2006-2010, 2011-2015, and 2015-2019. Results-In 2015-2019, 40.5% of never-married female teenagers (3.8 million), and 38.7% of never-married male teenagers (3.8 million) had ever had vaginal intercourse with an opposite-sex partner. For females this percentage was stable across the four time points, but for males this percentage decreased from the 2002 (45.7%) and 2011-2015 (44.2%) time points. For teen males, use of any contraception at first sex increased across the four time points, from 82.0% in 2002 to 92.1% in 2015-2019, while no consistent trend was seen for teen females. Nearly four out of five female teenagers (77.3%) in 2015-2019 used a method of contraception at first sex. Among female teenagers, ever-use of long-acting reversible contraception, which includes intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants, increased from 5.8% to 19.2% from 2011-2015 to 2015-2019.

Teenagers in the United States: sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, 2006-2010 national survey of family growth.

OBJECTIVE: This report presents national estimates of sexual activity, contraceptive use, and births among males and females aged 15-19 in the United States in 2006-2010 from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). For selected indicators, data are also presented from the 1988, 1995, and 2002 NSFG, and from the 1988 and 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males, conducted by the Urban Institute. METHODS: Descriptive tables of numbers and percentages are presented and discussed. Data were collected through in-person interviews of the household population of males and females aged 15-44 in the United States, between July 2006 and June 2010. Interviews were conducted with 22,682 men and women, including 4,662 teenagers (2,284 females and 2,378 males). For both the teen subsample and the total sample, the response rate was 77%. RESULTS: In 2006-2010, about 43% of never-married female teenagers (4.4 million), and about 42% of never-married male teenagers (4.5 million) had had sexual intercourse at least once. These levels of sexual experience have not changed significantly from 2002. Seventy-eight percent of females and 85% of males used a method of contraception at first sex according to 2006-2010 data, with the condom remaining the most popular method. Teenagers' contraceptive use has changed little since 2002, with a few exceptions: there was an increase among males in the use of condoms alone and in the use of a condom combined with a partner's hormonal contraceptive; and there was a significant increase in the percentage of female teenagers who used hormonal methods other than a birth-control pill, such as injectables and the contraceptive patch, at first sex. Six percent of female teenagers used a nonpill hormonal method at first sex.

Teenagers in the United States: sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, national survey of family growth 2006-2008.

OBJECTIVE: This report presents national estimates of sexual activity, contraceptive use, and births among males and females 15-19 years of age in the United States in 2006-2008 from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). Selected data are also presented from the 1988, 1995, and 2002 NSFGs, and from the 1988 and 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males (NSAM), conducted by the Urban Institute. METHODS: Descriptive tables of numbers and percents are presented and discussed. Data were collected through in-person interviews of the household population in the United States, conducted between July 2006 and December 2008. Interviews were conducted with 7,356 females-1,381 of whom were teenagers--and 6,140 males--1,386 of whom were teenagers-for a total of 2,767 teenagers. The overall response rate for the 2006-2008 NSFG was 75%. The response rate for female teenagers was 77% and for male teenagers 75%. RESULTS: In 2006-2008, about 42% of never-married female teenagers (4.3 million), and about 43% of never-married male teenagers (4.5 million) had had sexual intercourse at least once. These levels of sexual experience have not changed significantly from 2002, the last time the NSFG collected these data. Among never-married teenagers, 79% of females and 87% of males used a method of contraception at first sex. With a few exceptions, teenagers' use of contraceptives has changed little since 2002, and the condom remained the most commonly used method. One exception was an increase in the use of condoms and the use of a condom combined with a hormonal contraceptive (dual method use) among males. Another exception was a significant increase in the percent of female teenagers who had ever used periodic abstinence, or the "calendar rhythm" method. This method had been used by 17% of female teenagers in 2006-2008.

Current Contraceptive Status Among Women Aged 15-49: United States, 2017-2019.

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 postpartum, or not being sexually active. Using data from the 2017-2019 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 pills; long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), which include contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices; and the male condom.

Sexual Activity and Contraceptive Use Among Teenagers Aged 15-19 in the United States, 2015-2017.

Monitoring sexual activity and contraceptive use among teenagers aged 15-19 in the United States informs understanding of the risk of pregnancy. By 2018, the U.S. birth rate for teenagers dropped 72% from its peak in 1991 (1), paralleling a decline in the teen pregnancy rate (1,2). While this represents progress toward national goals, these rates are still higher than those in other developed countries (3,4). Using data from the 2002 through 2015-2017 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), this report provides trends and national estimates of sexual activity and contraceptive use among teenagers.

Coercive first intercourse and unintended first births.

Since research has shown that victims of violence are more likely to be involved in subsequent risky sexual behaviors, we hypothesized that coercive first intercourse would be associated with unintended first births. Using nationally representative data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth, we analyzed female respondents aged 18-44 years who reported a live birth (n = 4,136). Coercion was classified as none/minimal, mild, or significant based on self-report. In 2002, 13.7% of U.S. women aged 18-44 who had at least one live birth experienced mild coercion and 9.8% experienced significant coercion at first intercourse. Compared with women who experienced no coercion, the odds of reporting an unintended first birth was greater for women who experienced mild (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.4-2.6) or significant coercion (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.6-3.4).

Sexual Activity and Contraceptive Use Among Teenagers in the United States, 2011-2015.

Objective-This report presents national estimates of sexual activity and contraceptive use among males and females aged 15-19 in the United States in 2011-2015, based on data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). For selected indicators, data are also presented from the 1988, 1995, 2002, and 2006-2010 NSFGs, and from the 1988 and 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males, which was conducted by the Urban Institute. Methods-NSFG data were collected through in-person interviews with nationally representative samples of men and women aged 15-44 in the household population of the United States. NSFG 2011-2015 interviews were conducted between September 2011 and September 2015 with 20,621 men and women, including 4,134 teenagers (2,047 females and 2,087 males). The response rate was 72.5% for male teenagers and 73.0% for female teenagers. Results-In 2011-2015, 42.4% of never-married female teenagers (4.0 million) and 44.2% of never-married male teenagers (4.4 million) had had sexual intercourse at least once by the time of the interview (were sexually experienced). These levels of sexual experience among teenagers are similar to those seen in 2002 and 2006-2010 data. Longer-term trends, from 1988 to 2011-2015, show declines in the percentage of teenagers who were sexually experienced. Female teenagers' use of a method of contraception at first sex increased from 74.5% in 2002 to 81.0% in 2011-2015. Male teenagers' use of a condom at first sex increased from 70.9% in 2002 to 79.6% in 2006-2010 and remained stable at 76.8% in 2011-2015. Overall, in 2011-2015, 5.8% of female teenagers had used a long-acting reversible method (intrauterine device or implant).

Unmarried Men's Contraceptive Use at Recent Sexual Intercourse: United States, 2011-2015.

Contraception is used to help prevent unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STI). Higher percentages of pregnancies to unmarried persons are unintended than for those who are married (1). Patterns of contraceptive use as reported by women, including differences by marital status, are well documented using National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) data (2­4); however, less research focuses on contraceptive use as reported by men. Using 2011­2015 NSFG data from men, with selected time trends, this data brief describes contraceptive use at last recent vaginal sexual intercourse (within 3 months) among unmarried men, focusing primarily on male methods of contraception (condom, withdrawal, and vasectomy).

Fertility, contraception, and fatherhood: data on men and women from cycle 6 (2002) of the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth.

OBJECTIVE: This report presents national estimates of fertility, family formation, contraceptive use, and father involvement indicators among males 15-44 years of age in the United States in 2002 from Cycle 6 of the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). Data are also shown for women for purposes of comparison. METHODS: Descriptive tables of numbers and percentages are presented. Data were collected through in-person interviews of the household population 15-44 years of age in the United States between March 2002 and March 2003. The sample included 7,643 females and 4,928 males. This report focuses primarily on data from the male sample, but compares findings with the female data whenever appropriate. The overall response rate for Cycle 6 of the NSFG was 79 percent, and the response rate for men was 78 percent. RESULTS: This report covers a wide range of topics including first sexual intercourse and its timing in relation to marriage; contraceptive use; wantedness of births in the past 5 years; marital and cohabiting status at first birth; living arrangement of fathers with their children; father's activities with children they live with and those they do not live with; HIV-risk related behaviors; and infertility services. CONCLUSION: The reproductive experiences of men and women 15-44 years of age in the United States vary significantly, and often sharply, by demographic characteristics such as education, income, and Hispanic origin and race.

Fertility, family planning, and reproductive health of U.S. women: data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth.

OBJECTIVE: This report presents national estimates of fertility, family planning, and reproductive health indicators among females 15-44 years of age in the United States in 2002 from Cycle 6 of the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). For selected indicators, data are also compared with earlier cycles of the NSFG. METHODS: Descriptive tables of numbers and percentages are presented and interpreted. Data were collected through in-person interviews of the household population 15-44 years of age in the United States between March 2002 and March 2003. The sample included 7,643 females and 4,928 males, and this report focuses on data from the female sample. The overall response rate for the Cycle 6 NSFG was 79 percent, and the response rate for women was 80 percent. RESULTS: Given the range of topics covered in the report, only selected findings are listed here. About 14 percent of recent births to women 15-44 years of age in 2002 were unwanted at time of conception, an increase from the 9 percent seen for recent births in 1995. Among recent births, 64 percent occurred within marriage, 14 percent within cohabiting unions, and 21 percent to women who were neither married nor cohabiting. The overall rate of breastfeeding initiation among recent births increased from 55 to 67 percent between 1995 and 2002. About 50 percent of women 15-44 had ever cohabited compared with 41 percent of women in the 1995 survey; the percentage of women currently cohabiting also increased, from 7 to 9 percent between 1995 and 2002.

Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing of Teenagers Aged 15-19 in the United States.

KEY FINDINGS: Monitoring sexual activity and contraceptive use among U.S. adolescents is important for understanding differences in their risk of pregnancy. In 2013, the U.S. birth rate for teenagers aged 15-19 dropped 57% from its peak in 1991 (1), paralleling a decline in the teen pregnancy rate (1-2). But these rates are still higher than those in other developed countries (3-4). Using data from the 1988 to 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), this report provides trends and recent national estimates of sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing among teenagers aged 15-19.

Use of contraception and use of family planning services in the United States: 1982-2002.

OBJECTIVE: This report presents national estimates of contraceptive use and method choice based on the 1982, 1995, and 2002 National Surveys of Family Growth (NSFG). It also presents data on where women obtained family planning and medical services, and some of the services that they received. METHODS: Data were collected through in-person interviews with 12,571 men and women 15-44 years of age in the civilian noninstitutional population of the United States in 2002. This report is based on the sample of 7,643 women interviewed in 2002. The response rate for women in the study was about 80 percent. RESULTS: The leading method of contraception in the United States in 2002 was the oral contraceptive pill, used by 11.6 million women; the second leading method was female sterilization, used by 10.3 million women. The condom was the third-leading method, used by about 9 million women and their partners. The condom is the leading method at first intercourse; the pill is the leading method among women under 30; and female sterilization is the leading method among women 35 and older. More than 98 percent of women 15-44 years of age who have ever had sexual intercourse with a male (referred to as "sexually experienced women") have used at least one contraceptive method. Over the 20 years from 1982 to 2002, the percent who had ever had a partner who used the male condom increased from 52 to 90 percent. The proportion who had ever had a partner who used withdrawal increased from 25 percent in 1982 to 56 percent in 2002. Another important measure of contraceptive use is use at the first premarital intercourse: before 1980, only 43 percent of women (or their partner) used a method of birth control at their first premarital intercourse. By 1999-2002, the proportion using a method at first premarital intercourse had risen to 79 percent.

Teenagers in the United States: sexual activity, contraceptive use, and childbearing, 2002.

OBJECTIVE: This report presents national estimates of sexual activity, contraceptive use, and births among males and females 15-19 years of age in the United States in 2002 from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). Data are also presented from the 1988 and 1995 NSFGs, and from the 1988 and 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males (NSAM). METHODS: Descriptive tables of numbers and percents are presented and interpreted. Data were collected through in-person interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population in the United States. Interviews were conducted with 7,643 females, 1,150 of whom were teenagers, and 4,928 males, 1,121 of whom were teenagers. RESULTS: In 2002, about 47 percent of female teenagers (4.6 million), and about 46 percent of male teenagers (4.7 million) had had sexual intercourse at least once. For never-married males, there was a significant decline from 55 percent in 1995 to 46 percent in 2002. Among never-married females, for those aged 15-17 there was a significant decline in the percent sexually experienced, and for those aged 18-19 there was no significant change. Teenagers showed increases in the use of contraceptives. About 3 out of 4 teens used a method of contraception at their first intercourse. About 91 percent of males and 83 percent of females used a method at their last (most recent) sex. Hispanic teens are most likely to have a birth before age 20 and non-Hispanic whites are least likely, with non-Hispanic black teens in the middle. CONCLUSION: This report documents findings that may be helpful in understanding trends in teen birth and pregnancy, and STD rates.

Pregnancy rates for U.S. women continue to drop.

The pregnancy rate for U.S. women in 2009 was 102.1 per 1,000 women aged 15-44, the lowest level in 12 years; only the 1997 rate of 101.6 has been lower in the last 30 years. Rates for women under age 30 fell during 1990-2009, while rates for women aged 30 and over increased. Rates for teenagers reached historic lows in 2009, including rates for the three major race and Hispanic origin groups. Pregnancy rates have declined about 10% each for married and unmarried women since 1990. The birth rate for married women was 72% higher than the rate for unmarried women; the abortion rate for unmarried women was almost five times higher than the rate for married women. Pregnancy rates for women in the United States continued to decline in 2009, reaching the lowest level in 12 years (102.1 per 1,000 women aged 15-44). This level is 12% below the 1990 peak (115.8). The estimated number of pregnancies dropped to 6,369,000 (4,131,000 live births, 1,152,000 induced abortions, and 1,087,000 fetal losses). The drop in birth rates since 2007 has been well documented. However, it is important to examine the other outcomes of pregnancy to understand the full scope of current reproductive trends. The data in this report provide a comprehensive picture of pregnancies and pregnancy outcomes. Data on pregnancy outcomes by age, race and Hispanic origin, and marital status are presented using data from the National Vital Statistics System, the Abortion Surveillance System and Guttmacher Institute, and the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG).

Intended and unintended births in the United States: 1982-2010.

OBJECTIVES: This report shows trends since 1982 in whether a woman wanted to get pregnant just before the pregnancy occurred. This is the most direct measure available of the extent to which women are able (or unable) to choose to have the number of births they want, when they want them. In this report, this is called the "standard measure of unintended pregnancy." METHODS: The data used in this report are primarily from the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. The 2006-2010 NSFG included in-person interviews with 12,279 women aged 15-44. Some data in the trend analyses are taken from NSFG surveys conducted in 1982, 1988, 1995, and 2002. RESULTS: About 37% of births in the United States were unintended at the time of conception. The overall proportion unintended has not declined significantly since 1982. The proportion unintended did decline significantly between 1982 and 2006-2010 among births to married, non-Hispanic white women. Large differences exist between groups in the percentage of births that are unintended. For example, unmarried women, black women, and women with less education or income are still much more likely to experience unintended births compared with married, white, college-educated, and high-income women. This report also describes some alternative measures of unintended births that give researchers an opportunity to study this topic in new ways.

Estimated pregnancy rates and rates of pregnancy outcomes for the United States, 1990-2008.

OBJECTIVES: This report presents detailed pregnancy rates for 1990-2008, updating a national series of rates extending since 1976. METHODS: Tabular and graphical data on pregnancy rates by age, race, and Hispanic origin, and by marital status are presented and described. RESULTS: In 2008, an estimated 6,578,000 pregnancies resulted in 4,248,000 live births, 1,212,000 induced abortions, and 1,118,000 fetal losses. The 2008 pregnancy rate of 105.5 pregnancies per 1000 women aged 15-44 is 9 percent below the 1990 peak of 115.8. The teen pregnancy rate dropped 40 percent from 1990 to 2008, reaching a historic low of 69.8 per 1000 women aged 15-19. Pregnancy rates have declined significantly for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic teenagers. Rates in 2008 for non-Hispanic black and Hispanic teenagers were two to three times higher than the rates for non-Hispanic white teenagers. Pregnancy rates for women in their early 20s declined to the lowest level in more than three decades, although the declines have been more modest than for teenagers. Pregnancy rates for women aged 25-29 have changed relatively little since 1990, while rates for women in their 30s and early 40s increased.

Estimated pregnancy rates for the United States, 1990-2005: an update.

OBJECTIVES: This report presents detailed pregnancy rates for 1990-2005, updating a national series of rates extending since 1976. METHODS: Tabular data on pregnancy rates by age, race and Hispanic origin, and by marital status are presented and briefly described. RESULTS: in 2005, an estimated 6,408,000 pregnancies resulted in 4.14 million live births, 1.21 million induced abortions, and 1.06 million fetal losses. The 2005 pregnancy rate of 103.2 pregnancies per 1000 women aged 15-44 years is 11 percent below the 1990 peak of 115.8. The teenage pregnancy rate dropped 40 percent from 1990 to 2005, reaching an historic low of 70.6 per 1000 women aged 15-19 years. Rates fell much more for younger than for older teenagers.

Estimated pregnancy rates by outcome for the United States, 1990-2004.

OBJECTIVES: This report presents detailed pregnancy rates for 1990-2004, updating a national series of rates extending since 1976. Data from the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) are used to interpret trends in teenage pregnancy and in total pregnancy and fertility rates. METHODS: Tabular and graphical data on pregnancy rates by age, race and Hispanic origin, and by marital status are presented and described. Birth data are from the birth registration system for all births registered in the United States and reported by state health departments to the National Center for Health Statistics; abortion data are from the Guttmacher Institute and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and fetal loss estimates are from pregnancy history information collected by the NSFG. RESULTS: In 2004 an estimated 6,390,000 pregnancies resulted in 4.11 million live births, 1.22 million induced abortions, and 1.06 million fetal losses. The estimated pregnancy rate for 2004 was 103.0; the rate varied little between 1995 and 2004. The teenage pregnancy rate dropped 38 percent during 1990-2004, reaching an historic low of 72.2 pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15-19 years. Rates for younger teenagers declined relatively more than for older teenagers.