Contraception: A gendered burden? A mixed methods exploration of experiences around contraception responsibility.

This article examines the "contraceptive burden," defined as the disproportionate responsibility for pregnancy prevention placed on women and people who can become pregnant (PBP), through mixed-methods research involving an online questionnaire (n=367) and focus groups (34 participants) primarily from Montreal. Despite participants' egalitarian beliefs about shared contraceptive responsibility, findings reveal that PBPs often bear the majority of contraceptive work—including attending medical appointments alone, managing costs, and handling contraceptive failures—leading to dissatisfaction and feelings of injustice. Contributing factors include the gender imbalance in available contraceptive methods, societal and interpersonal pressures, trust issues with partners who can make pregnant (PMP), and relationship dynamics. The article calls for comprehensive sexual education, increased partner involvement, expanded contraceptive options for all genders, and societal awareness to address these inequities and promote reproductive justice.