21 million women live in U.S. counties with limited birth control access

Because of a data lag, the current reality of access may be even worse.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3500x2334+0+0/resize/3500x2334!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fdd%2F25%2F7546c78c4370a88292534e60c676%2F260903-watts-nprhealthcareaz-45.jpg' alt='A nurse displays a set of birth control pills at Pima County Health Department's Northwest Clinic, which offers free reproductive health services for all ages through federal funding from Title X, in Tucson, Ariz., on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.'/><p>Because of a data lag, the current reality of access may be even worse.</p><p>(Image credit: Anna Watts for NPR)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5956869' />