Web traffic and Google Trends data show increased interest in novel male contraception following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson ruling

Abstract

Objectives

Explore online public interest in male contraception in the United States after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson ruling.

Study design

We used Google Trends to examine relative search volumes for “male birth control” and observed the number of daily visits to two male contraception research websites during the weeks before and after the ruling.

Results

The mean relative search volume for “male birth control” more than doubled during the period after the ruling was publicized (p = 0.002). Daily visits to both male contraception websites peaked immediately following the ruling.

Conclusions

The overturning of federal abortion protections preceded a spike in United States public interest in male contraception.