July 28, 2025
RED FM News Desk
A new study reveals that significantly more women in British Columbia are choosing long-acting birth control methods after the province made prescription contraception free.
Researchers found that prescriptions for all types of birth control jumped considerably after the province began covering the cost of contraception in April 2023, with a notable increase in the use of intrauterine devices (IUDs).
The study, published Monday in the BMJ, examined the prescriptions of nearly 860,000 women in the 15 months following the start of contraception coverage. This data was then compared to what would have been expected if coverage had not been implemented.
IUD Prescriptions See Significant Boost
The study identified a 49% increase in prescriptions for IUDs. IUDs are inserted into the uterus to prevent fertilization and are considered ten times more effective than pills or condoms.
Lead author Laura Schummers noted that IUDs can cost up to $450 out-of-pocket. The research indicates that approximately 11,000 additional women chose this more reliable option. The study focused on prescriptions for women aged 15 to 49 between April 2023 and June 2024.
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