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Birth Control

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Contraceptives—birth control methods—prevent pregnancy. All women and men have a right to safe, effective, affordable and accessible contraception. Contraception reduces the number of unintended pregnancies and the need for abortion; it’s an essential and basic preventive health service globally.

The more contraceptive options a society has, along with easy access and the education to use them, the less a society has to depend upon abortion. In the United States, however, there are fewer contraceptive options than in other developed nations, access is far more complicated, and cost is prohibitive for far too many. In developed countries like The Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden—where effective contraceptive choices are easily accessible and inexpensive or free—women have lower abortion rates compared to the United States.