Israeli Women Shift Toward Long-Acting Contraceptives Amid Stable Pill Use

Data from Maccabi Healthcare Services, Israel's second-largest health fund, reveal a significant rise in the use of long-acting contraceptives among Israeli women over the past six years, particularly hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) and vaginal rings, while pill usage remains relatively stable. Between 2019 and 2025, prescriptions for hormonal IUDs increased by approximately 16%, from 18,543 to 21,425, and vaginal ring use grew by about 11%, from 15,490 to 17,261. Meanwhile, pill prescriptions rose modestly by 5%, from 156,480 to 163,181.

Dr. Vered Kleitman, head of women's health at Maccabi, attributes this trend to women's growing awareness and preference for contraceptives that do not require daily attention, highlighting the convenience of IUDs and monthly vaginal rings compared to daily pill intake. She also notes that removing cost barriers, as seen in a decade-old NEJM study and in the Israeli Defense Forces' free provision of IUDs since 2017, significantly increases uptake of long-acting methods.

Despite the rise in alternative methods, pills remain the most commonly prescribed contraceptive. Dr. Kleitman emphasizes that hormonal contraceptives also serve medical purposes beyond pregnancy prevention, such as treating endometriosis, heavy bleeding, acne, and migraines. She calls for reducing stigma around hormonal treatments, noting advances in formulations with fewer side effects and their role in lowering ovarian cancer risk.

Age differences influence contraceptive choice, with younger women (25-34) predominantly using pills, while older women (35-44) favor hormonal IUDs, reflecting lingering concerns about fertility impacts from earlier IUD models. Additionally, there is a notable gap between pill prescriptions and actual pharmacy purchases, partly due to prescription validity and some women's hesitation to start hormonal treatments.

Conversely, use of contraceptive injections dropped by over 50% from 2019 to 2025, mainly due to side effects like irregular bleeding and delayed return to fertility. Looking ahead, Dr. Kleitman anticipates the eventual availability of male contraceptives beyond condoms, underscoring the importance of empowering women with knowledge to choose the most suitable contraceptive methods.

Summary: Israeli women increasingly prefer long-acting contraceptives like hormonal IUDs and vaginal rings, while pill use remains steady. Convenience and awareness drive this shift, supported by studies and free access programs. Hormonal contraceptives also address various medical conditions, and future male contraceptives are anticipated.

Points: - Hormonal IUD use rose 16% in Israel from 2019 to 2025, with vaginal ring use up 11%. - Pill prescriptions increased slightly by 5%, remaining the most common contraceptive. - Convenience and awareness drive preference for long-acting methods over daily pills. - Hormonal contraceptives also treat medical issues like endometriosis and heavy bleeding. - Contraceptive injections declined by over 50% due to side effects and fertility concerns. - Age influences contraceptive choice, with younger women favoring pills and older women IUDs.

Topic: health israel_relevant: true Entities: {"people":["Vered Kleitman"],"organizations":["Maccabi Healthcare Services","Israeli Defense Forces","The New England Journal of Medicine"],"places":["Israel"]}