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According to 2015 data, the most common form of contraception in Georgia was found to be condoms (used by 14.4% of Georgian women who are married or in unions). This was followed by IUDs (13.2%), withdrawal/pull-out method (9%) and the rhythm method (6%). Generally speaking, birth control pills were less popular, as they were found to be used by only 4.3% of the surveyed women. There were also comparatively low rates of usage of female sterilization (3.1%), vaginal barrier methods (1.6%), contraceptive injectables (0.1%) and male sterilization (0.1%). There was found to be practically no usage of contraceptive implants (0.0%) at that time.<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref>
According to 2015 data, the most common form of contraception in Georgia was found to be condoms (used by 14.4% of Georgian women who are married or in unions). This was followed by IUDs (13.2%), withdrawal/pull-out method (9%) and the rhythm method (6%). Generally speaking, birth control pills were less popular, as they were found to be used by only 4.3% of the surveyed women. There were also comparatively low rates of usage of female sterilization (3.1%), vaginal barrier methods (1.6%), contraceptive injectables (0.1%) and male sterilization (0.1%). There was found to be practically no usage of contraceptive implants (0.0%) at that time.<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref>


There are many reasons why Georgian women use contraceptives at lower rates than their neighbors. For years, Georgia had insufficient contraceptive availability and family planning resources for women in the country.<ref>[https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/abortion-and-contraception-georgia-and-kazakhstan Abortion and Contraception in Georgia and Kazakhstan]</ref> Furthermore, Georgia remained a relatively conservative country during the Soviet era, maintaining the longstanding belief that women should remain virgins until marriage. After they married, they lived in homes that included an extended family of potentially three or four generations,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=61RhUZYRcz0C&pg=PA228&lpg=PA228&dq=georgia+country+religion+contraceptives&source=bl&ots=oplfCa1DMm&sig=U8E1NnEQqBFY602AEP7Cv9krNao&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwik5-LghIjZAhVQ3WMKHd_nBdg4ChDoATAFegQICRAB#v=onepage&q=georgia%20country%20religion%20contraceptives&f=false Central and Eastern Europe in Transition]</ref> which helped perpetuate traditional social and sexual mores in the country. Finally, the Orthodox Church has also played a role in lower adoption. Orthodox priests have urged  women to steer clear from birth control, and while many Georgians aren't extremely religious and may have ignored these warnings, other Georgians may have followed this advice.<ref>[https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-sex-selection-abortion/24979979.html Georgians Wrestle With Abortion Issue As Gender Imbalance Grows]</ref>  
There are many reasons why Georgian women use contraceptives at lower rates than their neighbors. For years, Georgia had insufficient contraceptive availability and family planning resources for women in the country.<ref>[https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/abortion-and-contraception-georgia-and-kazakhstan Abortion and Contraception in Georgia and Kazakhstan]</ref> Furthermore, contraceptives were expensive for many Georgians, and the state-funded health care system for the poor did not cover contraceptives.<ref>[https://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/from-abortion-to-contraception-in-georgia/ From Abortion to Contraception]</ref>
 
The low rate of adoption must also be understood from a cultural and religious standpoint. Georgia remained a relatively conservative country during the Soviet era, maintaining the belief that women should remain virgins until marriage. After they married, they lived in homes that included an extended family of potentially three or four generations,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=61RhUZYRcz0C&pg=PA228&lpg=PA228&dq=georgia+country+religion+contraceptives&source=bl&ots=oplfCa1DMm&sig=U8E1NnEQqBFY602AEP7Cv9krNao&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwik5-LghIjZAhVQ3WMKHd_nBdg4ChDoATAFegQICRAB#v=onepage&q=georgia%20country%20religion%20contraceptives&f=false Central and Eastern Europe in Central Europe]</ref> where traditional sexual mores remained intact. Meanwhile, the Orthodox Church is an incredibly influential force in Georgia today. The Church does not approve of contraceptives and its priests have actively discouraged women from using them.<ref>[https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-sex-selection-abortion/24979979.html Georgians Wrestle With Abortion Issue As Gender Imbalance Grows]</ref> While the country continues to modernize over the decades, these cultural forces certainly play a role in women's lives.


Ultimately, the low rate of contraceptive adoption may have contributed to the abortion rate in Georgia, where many women have used abortion as a late-stage family planning method. In fact, in 2005, Georgian women had an average of 3.1 abortions per lifetime.<ref>[https://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/from-abortion-to-contraception-in-georgia/ From Abortion to Contraception]</ref> However, it should be noted that the abortion rate have gradually increased over the past decade,<ref>[http://agenda.ge/news/62872/eng Abortion rate drops in Georgia[</ref> and in 2010, the abortion rate per woman had already dropped to 1.6 abortions per lifetime. This was largely due to the wider adoption of contraceptive methods, such as condoms and birth control pills.<ref>[https://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/from-abortion-to-contraception-in-georgia/ From Abortion to Contraception]</ref>  As of 2017, there are 1.76 children born per woman, on average, in Georgia.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2127.html CIA World Factbook - FIELD LISTING :: TOTAL FERTILITY RATE]</ref>
Ultimately, the low rate of contraceptive adoption may have contributed to the abortion rate in Georgia, where many women have used abortion as a late-stage family planning method. In fact, in 2005, Georgian women had an average of 3.1 abortions per lifetime.<ref>[https://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/from-abortion-to-contraception-in-georgia/ From Abortion to Contraception]</ref> However, it should be noted that the abortion rate have gradually increased over the past decade,<ref>[http://agenda.ge/news/62872/eng Abortion rate drops in Georgia[</ref> and in 2010, the abortion rate per woman had already dropped to 1.6 abortions per lifetime. This was largely due to the wider adoption of contraceptive methods, such as condoms and birth control pills.<ref>[https://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/from-abortion-to-contraception-in-georgia/ From Abortion to Contraception]</ref>  As of 2017, there are 1.76 children born per woman, on average, in Georgia.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2127.html CIA World Factbook - FIELD LISTING :: TOTAL FERTILITY RATE]</ref>

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