A new snapshot of Gen Z family planning finds young adults are delaying parenthood into their late 20s and, worryingly, a significant share are relying on the withdrawal or “pull-out” method as a primary form of birth control. The findings, drawn from a survey by pregnancy test brand First Response and women’s media platform Her Campus and reported by the New York Post, underscore a generational rethinking of when to have children — and a risk calculus around contraception that health experts say could backfire. For Thailand, where the birth rate has plunged to historic lows, the mix of delayed childbearing and inconsistent contraceptive protection holds lessons for sex education, public health, and demographic policy.
According to the survey summary, nearly three in four Gen Z respondents say they hope to have children someday, and the average respondent identified 28 as the “right age” to start trying — close to the latest U.S. data showing the mean age of first-time mothers reached 27.5 years in 2023, a record high, per a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Vital Statistics Report (cdc.gov). Respondents cite familiar prerequisites: finishing education, achieving financial stability, and being in a supportive relationship. But the data point grabbing headlines is their contraception choice: about 37% of Gen Zers reported favoring withdrawal, which most medical authorities caution is far less effective than modern methods. Typical-use failure rates for withdrawal hover around one in five pregnancies per year, the Cleveland Clinic notes (my.clevelandclinic.org), and the method offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), the CDC emphasizes (cdc.gov).
The shift to later parenthood will sound familiar to Thai readers watching our own demographic curve bend downward. Thailand recorded fewer than 500,000 births for the first time in modern records in 2024, with the total fertility rate falling to around 1.0, according to the Institute for Population and Social Research at Mahidol University, as reported by the Bangkok Post. The institute’s director warned that “urgent action is needed” to prevent a shrinking workforce and projected the population could fall to 40 million within five decades if trends persist (bangkokpost.com). Against this backdrop, a U.S.-based survey of Gen Z might seem distant. Yet the attitudes it captures — delaying children until financial and emotional milestones are met, mixed adherence to evidence-based contraception, and high exposure to at-home pregnancy testing — resonate with Thai realities in education, health access, and youth culture.
The Her Campus–First Response survey, summarized by the New York Post, reports that nearly all respondents support access to the full range of contraceptive options and 83% feel informed by sex education. Yet many say they are not using condoms or the pill; about 37% say the pull-out method is their top choice. Around 60% have taken a pregnancy test, and respondents describe the experience as anxiety-inducing but made more manageable by quick, easy-to-read results. The article spotlights First Response’s Early Result test, which the manufacturer says is more than 99% accurate from the day of a missed period (firstresponse.com). Independent reviews have long noted that home tests can reach 98–99% accuracy when used as directed at the time of an expected period, though “early” testing days beforehand is less reliable (my.clevelandclinic.org; pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
Stepping back, the survey’s contraception pattern aligns with broader reporting that some Gen Z women are skeptical of hormonal methods, citing side effects and a preference for “natural” approaches, including fertility awareness and withdrawal. Medscape has noted this trend among U.S. Gen Z, describing rising interest in non-hormonal methods and social media–driven narratives that can diverge from clinical guidance (medscape.com). A 2025 feature from The 19th News likewise traced a new current of birth control skepticism in some corners of youth culture, with a faction favoring cycle tracking and conservative framing of contraception — developments that public health experts have urged to counter with accurate, accessible information (19thnews.org).
For Thai youth, the conversation is not abstract. Studies here suggest that consistent condom use is far from universal, even as formal sex education has expanded. An analysis of Thailand’s 2021 Global School-based Student Health Survey found that among sexually active secondary students, 69% reported using a condom at last sex, and use rose with grade level; however, students reporting bullying, violence, or early substance use were significantly less likely to use condoms, pointing to complex psychosocial determinants of risk (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The Ministry of Education mandates age-appropriate sexuality education under the 2016 Act for the Prevention and Solution of the Adolescent Pregnancy Problem, with integration across health education and homeroom activities. Yet external reviews have flagged gaps in implementation and teacher training that can result in inconsistent delivery and outdated content (education-profiles.org).
Thai adolescents’ pregnancy risk remains a policy focus even as rates fall. UNICEF and the National Statistical Office reported the adolescent birth rate fell from 23 per 1,000 girls aged 15–19 in 2019 to 18 in 2022 (unicef.org). That is progress — but far from a solved problem. And, as the WHO reminds, methods like withdrawal and fertility awareness are “less reliable” under typical use, while condoms uniquely protect against STIs — an area where many countries are seeing troubling trends among youth (who.int; cdc.gov).
Several facts help frame the risks in plain language. First, typical-use failure rates matter more than “perfect use” in the real world. With withdrawal, research synthesized by family planning organizations indicates that about 20–22 out of 100 couples relying on it will experience a pregnancy within a year (my.clevelandclinic.org; plannedparenthood.org). Condoms, pills, and especially long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) have far lower typical-use failure rates, with implants and intrauterine devices typically below 1% per year, according to leading summaries of contraceptive effectiveness (guttmacher.org). Second, withdrawal offers no STI protection; correct and consistent condom use reduces risk of HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and other infections (cdc.gov). Third, emergency contraception is widely available in Thailand — levonorgestrel pills can be obtained from pharmacists without a physician’s prescription — and timely use after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure can substantially reduce the chance of pregnancy (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
Expert views converge on one message: access matters, and so does education anchored in evidence rather than anecdotes. In Thailand, the legal and curricular framework is in place to deliver comprehensive sexuality education across grades, with mandates to ensure teaching quality and protect pregnant students’ right to continue schooling. The challenge is making that policy lived reality in every classroom — and updating curricula to speak the language of today’s teens, including social media–shaped perceptions and myths (education-profiles.org). On demographics, the head of Mahidol’s Institute for Population and Social Research has warned that campaigns like “Give Birth, Great World” need a hard review for effectiveness, urging policy that tackles root barriers young couples face, from cost-of-living pressures to childcare and flexible work. “With the right kind of support, those who are undecided might decide to have children,” the director said in February (bangkokpost.com).
Culturally, Thai young adults often navigate family expectations, economic realities, and kreng jai (deference) when communicating about sex and contraception. In practice, that can make condom negotiation difficult, especially for younger women — a pattern echoed in international research linking power dynamics and confidence with protective behaviors. The Thai school study cited earlier found that having close friends was associated with higher condom use, suggesting peer support can be a protective factor (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). It also found reduced condom use among teens who reported being bullied or engaging in fights, aligning with studies that tie violence and mental health stressors to higher sexual risk-taking. These are not abstract correlations; they point toward integrated school health approaches that address bullying, mental well-being, and sexual health together.
Back in the U.S. survey, one 26-year-old respondent recalled taking a pregnancy test at 19 as “an overwhelming mix of anxiety and uncertainty” but said a clear, easy test “made a really stressful moment feel a little more manageable,” according to the New York Post’s coverage (nypost.com). That emotional snapshot will resonate with Thai students and young workers who quietly pick up tests at pharmacies from Chiang Mai to Chon Buri. Crucially, tests provide information; they do not replace contraception. And while a manufacturer’s 99% accuracy claim from the day of a missed period is reasonable in controlled conditions, early testing before a missed period is less definitive, and users should follow instructions precisely and retest if needed (firstresponse.com; my.clevelandclinic.org).
Why does Gen Z lean toward withdrawal? Reasons voiced in U.S. reporting include side effect concerns with hormonal contraception, mistrust of medical advice, a desire for “natural” methods, and perceived convenience (medscape.com; 19thnews.org). A Her Campus explainer published earlier this year, based on its own 2025 survey of more than 770 Gen Z respondents, also highlighted interest across a spectrum of methods from IUDs and implants to pills, shots, rings, and patches — a reminder that there is no single “Gen Z” approach, and that preference does not always translate into consistent use (hercampus.com). In Thailand, access barriers, misinformation, stigma, and partner pressure can push young people toward less reliable methods or inconsistent condom use. The good news is that Thailand’s pharmacy network is extensive, emergency contraception is pharmacist-dispensed without a doctor’s prescription, and public hospitals and clinics can provide counseling and long-acting methods — options that many young Thais may not realize are within reach (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
The demographic dimension matters, too. Thailand’s ultra-low fertility is not primarily the product of contraception use per se — modern methods help people achieve their desired family size — but of delayed marriage, urban costs, women’s higher education and employment, and limited support for balancing work and caregiving. That is why experts are urging the state to invest in childcare, parental leave, and housing, rather than merely urging couples to “try earlier.” Here, the U.S. Gen Z finding that 28 is the median “right age” to start trying dovetails with Thai trends. Delayed childbearing can raise the risk of fertility challenges, which should be addressed with education about reproductive aging and access to fertility care when needed — again, a call for credible guidance rather than alarm.
Where does this leave Thai readers? A few practical takeaways stand out:
If you are sexually active and not trying to conceive, choose a contraception method you can stick with. Typical-use failure rates are the real-world yardstick. LARCs like implants and IUDs have the lowest failure rates; pills, patches, rings, and injections are highly effective with consistent use; condoms add vital STI protection. Withdrawal has a high failure rate and no STI protection (guttmacher.org; cdc.gov; my.clevelandclinic.org).
Dual protection is smart. Combine condoms with a hormonal method or a copper IUD to reduce both pregnancy and STI risk — especially with new partners.
Keep emergency contraception in mind. If a condom breaks or sex happens without reliable contraception, levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pills are available in Thailand from pharmacists without a prescription; taking them as soon as possible after unprotected sex improves effectiveness (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
Practice informed testing. If you miss a period, at-home tests used on or after the expected day are highly accurate when used as directed. If you test early and get a negative result but still suspect pregnancy, test again in a few days or seek clinical testing (my.clevelandclinic.org).
Seek reliable information and support. Thailand’s schools are mandated to provide age-appropriate sexuality education, and public health services offer counseling and contraception. If bullying, partner pressure, or mental health stressors are affecting your sexual decision-making, reach out to a trusted teacher, counselor, or healthcare provider — the data show these factors are linked to risk (education-profiles.org; pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
For policymakers, three threads from the Gen Z survey and Thailand’s own data converge. First, update and standardize comprehensive sexuality education in ways that speak to digital-native youth, with practical skills like condom negotiation, side-effect management, and decision-making in relationships — not just anatomy. Second, make evidence-based contraceptive options easy to obtain for young adults, including same-day LARC placement at public facilities, youth-friendly hours, and discreet pharmacist counseling. Third, pair family policy with reproductive health: invest in childcare, flexible work, and housing to make parenthood feasible for those who want children, while respecting the rights of those who choose to wait or remain child-free.
There is room for optimism. Thailand’s adolescent birth rate is falling, a sign that information and services can work when they reach the right people at the right time (unicef.org). School-based interventions that reduce bullying and strengthen mental health can have spillover effects on safer sex. And Gen Z’s insistence on autonomy — “planning for the future on their own terms,” as Her Campus put it in a recent series — can be a foundation for responsible, informed choices if institutions provide the tools and trust young people to use them (hercampus.com).
The bottom line from the latest survey is deceptively simple: Gen Z wants children later, and many are cutting corners on contraception now. Thailand cannot control global youth culture, but we can meet young Thais where they are — with credible information, judgment-free services, and real support for the families they may one day choose to build. That approach is not only good public health; it is essential demographic strategy.
For readers who want to dig deeper into the data behind contraception choices and effectiveness, respected medical and public health sources offer clear guides. The Cleveland Clinic explains typical versus perfect use and why withdrawal is risky under everyday conditions (my.clevelandclinic.org). The Guttmacher Institute’s effectiveness summaries translate failure rates into practical terms (guttmacher.org). The CDC’s condom pages cover STI prevention basics and correct use (cdc.gov). And Thailand’s policy framework for comprehensive sexuality education is summarized in Education Profiles, with links to the 2016 Act and school guidance (education-profiles.org).
As for the headline-grabbing source itself, the New York Post’s article is a media relay of the Her Campus–First Response survey and includes several topline figures on intent to have children, ideal timing, sex education confidence, pregnancy testing, and contraception choices (nypost.com). Her Campus’ own explainers, meanwhile, show a parallel effort to translate birth control options for Gen Z audiences and suggest strong interest across method types — a reminder that with the right mix of access and education, young adults do not have to choose between autonomy and effectiveness (hercampus.com).
Practical recommendations for Thai readers:
Choose a method you can use consistently. If side effects or convenience are concerns, discuss non-hormonal options (copper IUD, condoms) or low-maintenance methods (implant, IUD) with a provider.
Use condoms every time with new or multiple partners — even if you are on another method — to reduce STI risk.
Keep one box of emergency contraceptive pills at home, just in case. Ask a pharmacist how and when to use it; sooner is better after unprotected sex.
If you are considering delaying childbirth into your 30s, get credible information about fertility, preconception health, and timelines. Plan — don’t panic.
If you are in school and feel your sex education is outdated or judgmental, ask your teacher or guidance counselor for accurate materials, and look for youth-friendly clinics that can answer questions without stigma.
If bullying, depression, or relationship pressure is affecting your sexual choices, seek support. The evidence shows these stressors can reduce condom use; protecting your mental health also protects your sexual health.
For parents and teachers, lean in. Honest, age-appropriate conversations about sex and contraception at home and in the classroom are protective — and mandated by Thai law for schools.
The demographic stakes are high, but the day-to-day choices are personal. Thailand’s path to healthier, more secure families runs through the pharmacy, the classroom, the clinic, and the dinner table — not through slogans. Gen Z has told us when they want to start families. Our job is to make sure that, until then, they have what they need to avoid the pregnancies and infections they do not want — and, when they are ready, the support to welcome the children they do.
Sources cited in this report include the New York Post’s coverage of the Her Campus–First Response survey of Gen Z family planning and contraception (nypost.com); Cleveland Clinic guidance on withdrawal effectiveness and home pregnancy tests (my.clevelandclinic.org; my.clevelandclinic.org); CDC resources on condom use and the mean age of first-time mothers (cdc.gov; cdc.gov); Guttmacher Institute contraception effectiveness summaries (guttmacher.org); an open-access Thai school study on condom use correlates (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov); Thailand’s comprehensive sexuality education policy profile (education-profiles.org); UNICEF’s press release on adolescent birth rate declines (unicef.org); First Response product information (firstresponse.com); Medscape and The 19th News reporting on Gen Z contraception attitudes (medscape.com; 19thnews.org); and the Bangkok Post on Thailand’s falling births and TFR (bangkokpost.com). Emergency contraception access in Thailand is documented in a pharmacist-focused survey study (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).