--- title: Access to Contraception Increases Social and Economic Benefits for Women And Society date: 2013-03-29T15:57:04-04:00 author: OBOS Admin canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/access-to-contraception-increases-social-and-economic-benefits-for-women-and-society" section: Blog (Archive) --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [From the Archives of Our Bodies, Our Blog](/blog)# Access to Contraception Increases Social and Economic Benefits for Women And Society By Rachel Walden • March 29, 2013 Please note: This entry -- originally posted at [Our Bodies, Our Blog](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog) -- has not been updated since the publication date listed above. The Guttmacher Institute recently published a report examining how access to and the use of effective birth control affects women's lives. "[The Social and Economic Benefits of Women’s Ability to Determine Whether and When To Have Children](http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/social-economic-benefits.pdf "PDF of the report")" reviews more than 66 studies over the past 30 years. According to researchers, access to contraception and avoidance of unplanned pregnancy have led to: - - increases in young women obtaining at least some college education - increases in college-educated women pursuing advanced professional degrees - increased participation in the workforce by women - increases in women’s earning power and decreases in the gender gap in pay The researchers identify several gaps in the literature as well as areas where additional research is needed, such as how contraception benefits older women and women with low incomes, of racial and ethnic minorities, single mothers, and women with other sociodemographic factors that might prevent them from getting the full benefits of contraception. The authors conclude with an important call for ongoing efforts to enhance access to contraception: > Clearly, access to reproductive health care and the recognition of reproductive rights cannot be addressed in isolation from the rest of an individual’s life, or from the rest of society’s inequities. Rather, policies and programs that advance contraceptive access and those that affect whether a woman is still able to achieve her life goals if and when she becomes a mother should be considered as part of a greater whole. > > By helping women and couples, regardless of background or income, determine and exercise their own reproductive choices, government and organizational policies can help advance broader economic equality and social justice for individual women, families and society. The report is [available online as a PDF](http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/social-economic-benefits.pdf); a [summary with links to more information](http://www.guttmacher.org/media/nr/2013/03/21/index.html) is also provided. Also check out OBOS's [Brief History of Birth Control](/health-info/a-brief-history-of-birth-control/ "A Brief History of Birth Control in the U.S."). --- #### 1 Response Our Bodies Ourselves is no longer able to accept comments. **Daryan** on Mar 31, 2013 I really liked this article because since I am currently a college student it is helpful to know that ongoing efforts to increase access to contraceptives is going on. I know girls my age would definitely like the fact that we can be here furthering our college education and be able to one day have kids when we want to. ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)Topics - [Birth Control & Family Planning](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/birth-control-family-planning) - [Research & Studies](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/blog/topic/research-studies) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)### *Why You Can* **Trust Us** - We rigorously evaluate all content - We embrace a reproductive justice framework - We don’t accept ads or sell products - We reject funding from the pharmaceutical industry - We counter misinformation and disinformation - We address the social, political, and economic factors that affect health and sexuality [read more](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/why-you-can-trust-us) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)