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# Suffolk sees surge in long-acting contraceptive use, mirroring national shift away from the pill
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-sees-surge-in-long-acting-contraceptive-use-mirroring-national-shift/
- Published: 2024-10-02T09:26:17.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:34:00.000Z
- Description: More than half of women in Suffolk using contraception opt for long-acting methods, new NHS data reveals. This trend mirrors a national shift away from the pill.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Health, Fitness & Wellness, Health & Care Services, #article, #Import 2026-03-16 14:46

**The big picture:** 53% of 6,369 women using contraception in Suffolk chose long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in 2023-24\. Just 27% used the pill.

- Across England, LARC use has risen by nearly a quarter since the pandemic, reaching 54%
- Pill use in England dropped from 39% to 28% over the same period

![The contraceptive pill](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1727862045-contraceptive-pills-1.jpg)

The contraceptive pill is now used by just 27% of women in Suffolk Photo: areeya\_ann (Getty Images)

**Why it matters:** Contraceptive choices are complex and often challenging for women. According to women's health website [The Lowdown](https://thelowdown.com/?ref=ipswich.co.uk):

- 80% of women experience side effects from contraception, yet there's a lack of comprehensive clinical evidence and high-quality information.
- 33% of users feel they don't have enough time in GP appointments to discuss all their contraceptive options.
- One-third of women in the UK lack easy or convenient access to contraception.

**What they're saying:** Tanya Lane, MSI UK's clinical excellence lead for Contraception and Sexual Health, said: "These figures show a significant increase in the popularity of long-acting methods, which may reflect the difficulty many are finding accessing GP surgeries and sexual health clinics."

**Between the lines:** Lane suggested several factors could be driving the trend:

- Difficulty accessing GP surgeries and sexual health clinics.
- Rising popularity of social media platforms like TikTok, where people share experiences with different contraceptives.
- The cost of living crisis leading people to delay having children.

The figures also show a sharp rise in abortion-related contacts with sexual and reproductive services across England.

- 1,390 abortion-related contacts were recorded in Suffolk.
- 405 emergency contraceptives were provided in Suffolk, including 20 to under-16s.

**What's next:** The Department of Health and Social Care says it will prioritise women's health in its 10-year plan to reform the NHS, including shifting healthcare focus into the community.

### Sources

- [Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, England (Contraception), 2023-24](https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/sexual-and-reproductive-health-services/2023-24?ref=ipswich.co.uk)
- [Sexual and Reproductive Health Services (Contraception), England, 2018/19](https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/sexual-and-reproductive-health-services/2018-19?ref=ipswich.co.uk)
- [The Low Down](https://thelowdown.com/?ref=ipswich.co.uk)

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