This is the second most popular contraceptive. And it's very surprising.

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It’s no secret that the pill is the most used form of contraception available. In fact, it’s so popular that as many as 100 million women use it.

But what you may not know is that the second most popular contraceptive is female sterilisation, according to the latest report from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Centre for Health Statistics.

The report, which was released less than two months ago, indicates a less than one per cent difference between the number of women using the pill (16 per cent) and the number of women opting for sterilisation (15.5 per cent). The study also revealed that 62 per cent of women aged 15 to 44 were using birth control and that “nearly all women use contraception at some point in their lifetimes”.

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The CDC report also showed that a woman’s age and education level are two key factors influencing her choice of contraceptive. Basically put, nearly one in three women between the ages of 33 and 45 choose sterilisation (a permanent procedure to block the fallopian tubes so that sperm cannot travel up to meet the egg), compared to less than one per cent of women aged 15 to 24.

Additionally, as women become more educated on contraceptive methods, they are more likely to opt for the pill. This is coupled with an overall decline in the number of women choosing sterilisation – an irreversible contraceptive method that is as close to 100 per cent effective as possible.

The sterilisation procedure, which is relatively simple, is a popular choice for women who want or need a highly effective approach to prevent pregnancy. This is because it has “no significant long-term side effects” and your partner “doesn’t have to know about it or do anything different,” according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Taking contraception beyond the pill.

Until now, the effectiveness and ease of sterilisation has been appealing to women who do not want to be bothered with daily options like the pill and condom use. But, as the use of long-acting, easy to use contraceptives (like the IUD) continue to grow, we can probably expect to see the rate of sterilisation decline.

No matter your age or stage of life, you should always be sure to know what your options are when it comes to contraceptives so you can be sure to choose the method that's just right for you.

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