The Case Against Contraception
One of the most common claims made in favor of contraception is that a widespread provision of contraceptives would reduce abortion. However, the evidence does not bear out this claim. In practice, contraceptives radically alter human behavior, such that the end result is more abortion, not less.
The following statistics and observations from both sides of the abortion issue provide some insight into why this is so—why contraception increases abortion contrary to what many would expect.
- FACT: The majority of women who abort their babies were using contraception when they became pregnant.
- —Alan Guttmacher Institute, research arm of Planned Parenthood
- Contraceptive failure rates:
- The Pill: 7%
- Condom: 16%
- Diaphragm: 22%
- Spermicide: 30%
- Figures are even higher for unmarried people.
- —National Survey of Family Growth
- "[F]or every 1,000 teens between 15 and 19 years of age enrolled in family planning clinics, we can expect between 50 to 120 more pregnancies."
- —Institute for Research and Evaluation director Stan E. Weed
- "Contraceptive users appear to have been more motivated to prevent births than were nonusers."
- —Alan Guttmacher Institute researcher Stanley K. Henshaw
- "With effective contraception controlled by women, there are still more abortions than ever. . . . [C]ontraception causes abortion."
- —Sociologist Lionel Tiger, 1999
- "At the risk of being repetitious, I would remind the group that we have found the highest frequency of induced abortions in the group which, in general, most frequently uses contraception."
- —Notorious "sexologist" Alfred Kinsey, 1955
- "As people turn to contraception, there will be a rise, not a fall, in the abortion rate."
- —Abortionist Malcolm Potts, 1976
- "There is overwhelming evidence that, contrary to what you might expect, the provision of contraception leads to an increase in the abortion rate."
- —Abortionist Judith Bury, 1981
- "The close connection which exists, in mentality, between the practice of contraception and that of abortion is becoming increasingly obvious."
- —Pope John Paul II, 1995
- "That same selfishness that wants to prevent the child by contraception will grow until it wants to kill the child already conceived."
- —Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
The link between abortion and contraception was explored in great detail at the Pro-Life Action Leauge's September 22-23, 2006 conference, "Contraception Is Not the Answer." You can read all about it or order CDs of the conference talks from LCE Media online by phone at 800-693-3884, or by mail or fax with our printable CD Order Form [PDF].
