WHO Brief Links Contraceptive Use to Women’s Health, Empowerment, and Economic Gains

Contraceptive use not only improves women’s health outcomes but also strengthens their socioeconomic position and autonomy, according to a new evidence brief released by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The report, which draws on six systematic reviews, examines the broader impact of modern contraception on women’s health, socioeconomic status (SES) and empowerment.

Global Reach

In 2022, an estimated 874 million women aged 15–49 were using a modern method of contraception, underscoring the widespread normalisation of family planning worldwide. The WHO said this scale of use presented an opportunity to better understand how contraceptives affect not just pregnancy outcomes but also women’s long-term health and social well-being.

Health Benefits

The reviews confirm that contraception significantly reduces high-risk pregnancies, maternal morbidity and mortality. Women using contraception are 30% less likely to experience high-risk pregnancies, and access to modern methods has lowered maternal deaths in countries including Bangladesh and Brazil.

Beyond maternal health, the brief highlights protective effects of hormonal contraceptives against some cancers. Oral contraceptive users were found to have a 36% lower risk of ovarian cancer and a 44% lower risk of endometrial cancer compared with non-users. The analysis did note a slightly increased risk of cervical cancer, which the WHO said can be mitigated through timely HPV vaccination.

Menstrual and Mental Health

The reviews also link contraceptive use to better menstrual health. Women using hormonal methods reported fewer symptoms of menstrual pain, endometriosis and abnormal bleeding, improvements that contribute to quality of life and reduced absenteeism from school and work.

Mental health outcomes were described as more complex. Among women with pre-existing conditions, contraceptive use was associated with reduced depressive and anxiety symptoms. However, some hormonal methods — including implants and hormonal IUDs — may slightly increase the risk of depression in women without prior mental health issues. The WHO called for personalised contraceptive counselling that takes mental health into account.

Empowerment and Socioeconomic Impact

Two systematic reviews examined links between contraception and empowerment. The findings indicate that access to contraceptives strengthens women’s decision-making power, control over resources, and participation in education and the workforce.

Among adolescents and young women, empowerment programmes tied to contraceptive access cut the incidence of teenage pregnancy by more than half. The WHO emphasised that contraception should be understood as a cornerstone of gender equality, economic development and public health.

Policy Implications

The brief calls for governments to ensure universal access to family planning services and to integrate empowerment strategies into reproductive health programmes. Priorities include:

• Tailoring services to adolescents and young women

• Training health-care providers

• Strengthening health systems

• Embedding mental health support into contraceptive counselling

The report also identifies evidence gaps, particularly regarding the long-term impacts of contraceptive use and the experiences of women with underlying health conditions. The WHO urged continued investment in research to guide future policy.

A Cornerstone of Equality

“The evidence reaffirms that contraceptive access is not merely a health intervention – it is a cornerstone of gender equality, economic development and public health,” said Pascale Allotey, Director of HRP and of WHO’s Department on Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing (SRMCAHA).

The organisation stressed that contraceptive access shapes women’s lives far beyond pregnancy prevention — influencing health, autonomy and opportunity in every sphere of society.