Birth Control

Will the health plan pay for the contraceptives the doctor prescribes? MediaforMedical/Emmanuel Rogue/Getty Images hide caption

University of Notre Dame contends that the act of signing a form opting out of the Affordable Care Act's birth control mandate makes the school complicit in providing coverage. Getty Images hide caption

Pope Francis waves to the crowd in Manila, capital of the Philippines, before boarding his flight back to Rome on Monday. Aaron Favila/AP hide caption

Participants sing during a wedding ceremony at Bole Medhane Alem (Savior of the World) Cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It's Africa's largest Orthodox church, and its message on contraceptive devices is clear: not permitted. Allison Shelley for NPR hide caption

"This is the last one," says Yassin Diouf, 40, holding her youngest child. "God help me to stop here." She has given birth 10 times; six of the children have survived. She and her family live in the village of Mereto in Senegal. "Maybe [family planning] is forbidden by Islam, but women are so tired of giving birth. If you have the permission of your husband, I think it's good." Allison Shelley for NPR hide caption

Did worries about financial stability get more men to say no to fatherhood? iStockphoto hide caption

Teenagers typically choose condoms or the pill for contraception, but doctors say longer-acting methods work best. B. Boissonnet/Corbis hide caption

The NuvaRing contraceptive ring can be used monthly to prevent pregnancy. Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images hide caption

Intrauterine devices can be used immediately after a woman has given birth to prevent future pregnancies. iStockphoto hide caption

Some employers may pay for birth control pills, but not other forms of contraception. Monik Markus/Flickr hide caption

Exercise helps lower stroke risk, but birth control pills and pregnancy can be problematic for younger women. iStockphoto hide caption

Insurers still charge copays for some contraceptives. Laura Garca/iStockphoto hide caption