Unintended pregnancy rates in the United States are high, especially among adolescents and young adults. Pregnancy prevention efforts have typically focused primarily on women, with few programs addressing family planning with men. Although measures of need for pregnancy prevention are described for US women this approach has not been conducted for men. One recent study that used this approach found that 40% of US men aged 35 to 39 years are in need of family planning. Although this study provides preliminary insight into male need for family planning, it is limited by a narrow age range and therefore provides a partial estimate of reproductive-aged males’ need for family planning. The study finds the need for engaging men aged 15 to 44 years in family planning education and care is substantial and largely unmet despite national public health priorities to include men in reducing unintended pregnancies.
Unintended pregnancy rates in the United States are high, especially among adolescents and young adults. Pregnancy prevention efforts have typically focused primarily on women, with few programs addressing family planning with men. Although measures of need for pregnancy prevention are described for US women this approach has not been conducted for men. One recent study that used this approach found that 40% of US men aged 35 to 39 years are in need of family planning. Although this study provides preliminary insight into male need for family planning, it is limited by a narrow age range and therefore provides a partial estimate of reproductive-aged males’ need for family planning. The study finds the need for engaging men aged 15 to 44 years in family planning education and care is substantial and largely unmet despite national public health priorities to include men in reducing unintended pregnancies.
