Separating Fact from Fiction: Why Contraceptives Do Not Cause Abortions

Misinformation can be dangerous. For women in rural communities, it can be deadly. In Kenya’s Narok County, which has one of the highest maternal death rates in the country, myths about contraception have kept many women from making informed choices about their reproductive health.

Evaline Chepkemol, a mother of three, has heard it all. She recalls women in her community warning each other that using family planning methods could make children “disappear” or prevent them from having children altogether. Fortunately, she learned the truth from health workers at the Ololulung’a sub-county hospital, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). With the right information, Evaline has been able to space her children safely and plan her family in a way that works for her.

Her experience is not unique. Around the world, myths linking contraception to abortion or miscarriage continue to circulate, undermining women’s access to essential health services. These myths persist despite clear scientific evidence showing that contraceptives prevent pregnancy and do not end it.  Below are four clear reasons why contraceptives do not induce abortions or cause miscarriages.

1. Contraception prevents pregnancy

Contraceptives work by preventing sperm from meeting an egg. They include a wide range of methods, from oral pills, injectables and condoms to vasectomy, tubal sterilisation and lactational amenorrhoea. Hormonal methods prevent ovulation or block sperm movement, while non-hormonal methods like condoms and tubal ligation create a physical barrier. Even copper intrauterine devices (IUDs) work by affecting sperm movement, stopping fertilisation from occurring. None of these methods end an existing pregnancy.

2. Emergency contraception is prevention, not termination

Emergency contraceptive pills can be taken within 72 to 120 hours after unprotected sex. They work by delaying ovulation, not by disrupting a pregnancy. Many people mistakenly believe pregnancy begins during intercourse, but in reality, fertilisation can take days. For survivors of sexual assault or those unable to control contraceptive use due to coercion or violence, emergency contraception can be a vital tool for preventing unintended pregnancy.

3. Contraceptives cannot cause abortion

Extensive medical research shows that using contraception during pregnancy does not terminate the pregnancy or harm a developing foetus. Contraceptives are among the most studied medical products in the world, and the evidence is consistent: they are not abortifacients.

4. Contraceptives help prevent abortions

By reducing unintended pregnancies, contraceptives reduce the number of abortions, particularly unsafe ones that pose serious risks to women’s health. Nearly half of all pregnancies worldwide are unintended, and more than half of these end in abortion. In countries where abortion is restricted, unsafe procedures contribute significantly to maternal deaths.

According to UNFPA, contraceptives procured in 2024 alone are estimated to have prevented 18 million unintended pregnancies, 7.5 million unsafe abortions and 39,000 maternal deaths. The benefits extend beyond health. By preventing the injuries, disabilities and financial costs linked to unsafe abortion, contraception also supports families and strengthens economies.

For women like Evaline Chepkemol, access to reliable information and services makes all the difference. “After we were given that health talk, many women now like family planning,” she says. Dispelling myths about contraception is not just about correcting misinformation. It is about saving lives, protecting health and empowering women to take charge of their futures.

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