3 October, 2024: Australian women want more accurate information about their contraceptive choices, with 70 per cent believing they have insufficient education on contraception and 32 per cent of young women (aged 18 to 24) using contraception, regularly experiencing anxiety about their current method, according to a new national survey.¹

Adding to the anxiety, over a third (35%) of young women surveyed say they have experienced a pregnancy scare and 38 per cent say they have taken emergency contraception.¹ 

The Hon Ged Kearney, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care welcomed the survey insights, which will help inform the government’s ongoing work supporting women’s health, “Bias against women in the health system is deeply entrenched. I’m proud to be part of a government taking women’s health seriously.”

Family Planning Alliance Australia Chair, Caroline Mulcahy, said, “We must empower women with the knowledge and access needed to make informed decisions about contraception that best suits their needs. These findings highlight a significant gap in our current system, which fails to support contraceptive choice due to accessible reliable information.” 

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Board Chair, Dr Lara Roeske, said “GPs play a vital role in contraception and sexual healthcare, including advising patients on which contraceptive methods might be best for them, and performing intrauterine device (IUD) insertions and removals.”

The national 2024 ‘Contraceptive Choice’ survey of 1,000 women aged 18 to 45, commissioned by Bayer, highlighted the important role of GPs (68%) as the primary source of contraception information for women.¹ 

“Ensuring patients have access to information on all the options for contraception is key to improving health, wellbeing, and social outcomes. Increasing patients’ Medicare rebates and supporting training for GPs on IUD insertion will help ensure our frontline healthcare professionals spend the time required and are equipped and remunerated to provide these important services,” said Dr Lara Roeske. 

“It is a woman’s fundamental right to have choices when it comes to their reproductive health. They deserve access to   effective and affordable contraceptives, like long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), and they deserve a health system that meets their needs,” said Ms Mulcahy. 

According to the ‘Contraceptive Choice’ survey, barriers for women in trying a new method of contraception include the fear of side effects (42 per cent), being worried about more costs and time taken to switch contraception (21 per cent), while some women say they don’t know enough to make informed decisions about new options (17 per cent).¹

Six decades after the introduction of oral contraception, it is concerning that even though 70 per cent of Australian women are using some form of contraception, an estimated third have had an unplanned pregnancy at some point in their life.² As reported by the Medical Journal of Australia, one-third of unplanned pregnancies end in termination.³

“Although LARCs are one of the most effective forms of reversible contraception it is used by only 11 per cent of women aged 15 to 44 in Australia. We need to bridge the gap between Australia and other OECD countries on this critical aspect of women’s health.⁴ The UK as an example has a LARC uptake of 44.1%⁵” added Ms Mulcahy. 

Leading clinician and researcher in sexual and reproductive health, Professor Deborah Bateson, at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney said, “It is vital that we address the challenges and concerns women have about contraception by ensuring they have accurate information, appropriate medical counselling and easy access to contraceptive services. LARCs are a highly effective, affordable and convenient contraceptive option, but there is much to be done to improve awareness and access. This collaboration is a crucial step towards ensuring every woman in Australia can make informed decisions about her reproductive health.”

The collaboration is advocating for key reforms to ensure Australian women have equitable access to the full range of contraceptive options, including:

• An increase in the MBS rebate (item 35503) for the insertion of intrauterine devices (IUDs) from $77.65 to $222.65 to better reflect the time and resources healthcare professionals invest for their patients.
• A 20% increase in the MBS rebate for longer consultations (Level C: 20-40 minutes and Level D: 40+ minutes) which can support women and their healthcare professionals to address specific women's health topics.
• A national contraception awareness campaign to address gaps in education around contraceptive options, particularly LARCs, and combat misinformation on social media considering this is where one in five (21%) of young women aged 18 - 24 are getting their information on contraception
   

Manoj Saxena, CEO of Bayer ANZ and Country Division Head for the Pharmaceutical Division said, “We commend Minister Kearney and her leadership in driving the current women’s health agenda in Australia, particularly the recent gender audit of MBS items and the funding for LARC training.” 

“The current Senate Inquiry into Reproductive Healthcare has shown us that greater investment is needed to tackle inequalities in women’s access to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). By investing into LARC, we have the opportunity to generate health savings and limit the far-reaching impact of unplanned pregnancies for women, their families and the health system.⁴”
 

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Media Contacts: Melissa Rosenberg I 0410 500 014 & Nicole Phillips I 0408 280 499 HAVAS Red 

About the RACGP: 
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is the peak representative organisation for general practice, the backbone of Australia’s health system. We set the standards for general practice, facilitate lifelong learning for GPs, connect the general practice community, and advocate for better health and wellbeing for all Australians.

About Family Planning Alliance Australia: 
FPAA is a long-standing alliance of the key sexual and reproductive health organisations in each Australian state and territory, and is their national policy and advocacy voice. FPAA works primarily at the national level to uphold, strengthen and advance sexual and reproductive health and rights, so that all people have freedom and autonomy over matters related to their sexuality, reproduction, gender and wellbeing. Our work cuts across 20+ national government strategies and policy frameworks in the portfolios of health, education, gendered violence, equity, e-safety, prevention of child sexual abuse and international development. Through the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) network, FPAA connects internationally with organisations to further sexual and reproductive health and rights.

About Bayer in Australia: 
Bayer is a life sciences company with a 150-year history and core competencies in the areas of health and agriculture. We have been present in Australia since 1925 and today our company is working to bring science to address some of the greatest challenges of our time – from climate change to caring for growing and ageing populations to improving food security and productivity. Over 60 years ago, Bayer launched its first oral contraceptive to Australian women. Bayer continues to focus on Women’s Health in the areas of contraception, endometriosis, heavy menstrual bleeding, menopause and pregnancy nutrition.

At Bayer, we have the fundamental belief that empowering girls and women, and providing them access to family planning, are central for sustainable development and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This is also in line with our mission ‘’Health for All, Hunger for None’’. Family planning plays a crucial role in reducing poverty and hunger, improving the health and well-being of communities, ensuring high-quality education and economic growth, and sparking institutional and ecological changes that move toward fairness and equality.

References 
1. Bayer data on file ‘Contraceptive Choice Consumer Survey Insights’. 2024. COR-PF-WHC-AU-0019-1
2. Federal Government, 2024. Women’s Budget Statement. Available at: https://budget.gov.au/content/womens-statement/download/womens-budget-statement-2024-25.pdf. Accessed September 2024.     
3.  C. Swannell, 2018. Almost one-third of unplanned pregnancies end in abortion. Available at: https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2018/almost-one-third-unplanned-pregnancies-end-abortion. Accessed September 2024.     
4.   Grzeskowiak et al, 2020. Changes in use of hormonal long-acting reversible contraceptive methods in Australia between 2006 and 2018: A population-based study. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33095452/#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20in,doubled%20over%20the%20past%20decade. Accessed September 2024.     
5. UK Government 2024. Reproductive health profiles: statistical commentary. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reproductive-health-2023-update/reproductive-health-profiles-statistical-commentary. Accessed September 2024.
6. Public Health England, Health England, Extending Public Health England’s contraception return on investment tool, Maternity and primary care settings, July 2021

About the 2024 Contraceptive Choice Survey
This survey was commissioned by Bayer and conducted by PureProfile. The survey analysed contraceptive use and experiences by in 1,000+ Australian women, aged 18 to 45.

The survey was conducted via an online quantitative survey between July 11 2024 and July 16 2024, with Gen-Pop data weighted to the latest population estimates sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

From a findings perspective, Pure Profile included the following measures to ensure the responses are statistically credible and in line with the views of women aged 18 – 45. 

• Sampling bias: All the invitations were sent without any mention of the survey topic. Furthermore, the sample was pulled in proportions which are in line with ABS representation e.g. age and location.
• Statistically credible on completion: To make conclusions from the results implemented quotas in place for age and location. This will prevent any demographic skews and ensure the sample distribution is in line with the ABS population figures.

Bayer Australia Pty Ltd, ABN 22 000 1 38 714, 875 Pacific Highway, Pymble NSW 2073.  
Ph: (02) 9391 6000. Date of Preparation: September 2024  / COR-PF-WHC-AU-0022-1