Men's contraceptive practices in France: evidence of male involvement in family planning

Mireille Le Guen, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)
Cécile Ventola, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) and Université Paris Sud XI
Caroline Moreau, Johns Hopkins University and Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)
Nathalie Bajos, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) and Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)

The highly medicalized context of hormonal contraception in France raises the question of male involvement in the choice of contraception. In this study we aim to investigate the factors associated with men’s contraceptive practices in France. Data are drawn from the FECOND study, a national probability survey conducted in France in 2010. The survey included a random sample of 3373 men aged 15 to 49 years. In France, only a small minority of men in need of contraception does not use any method of contraception with their partner. Most men rely on their female partner’s use of contraception, in particular the pill and the IUD. Male controlled contraception only refers to condoms and withdrawal since vasectomy is not used at all. Our results on male contraceptive in France suggest potential important implications of men in contraception, which however seems restricted due to limited male contraceptive options.