Designed or functioning to prevent pregnancy or reduce the ability to reproduce.
From anti- (against) + fertility (ability to reproduce). Emerged in medical terminology during the 1950s-60s with development of birth control methods.
The term 'antifertility' helped spark one of medicine's biggest breakthroughs—the birth control pill in 1960 completely changed how women could control their own futures and careers.
Antifertility discourse has disproportionately medicalized and moralized women's reproductive bodies. Framed as 'antifertility,' reproductive control measures (contraception, sterilization) have been positioned as deviant or unnatural when women deploy them, while overlooking men's reproductive agency and choice.
Use 'contraceptive,' 'fertility regulation,' or 'reproductive autonomy' instead. Frame reproductive choices as expressions of bodily autonomy rather than 'antifertility' opposition.
["contraceptive","fertility regulation","reproductive autonomy"]
Feminist reproductive justice scholars have centered women's right to have children, not have children, and parent children in safe conditions—moving beyond 'antifertility' framing toward reproductive autonomy.
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