Why has the human population increased so much in the last few centuries, although we actually invented effective birth control methods?

Question

Why has the human population increased so much in the last few centuries, although we actually invented effective birth control methods?

In: 211

Answer 1

Effective birth control methods have existed for millenia as have various methods to make conception more likely. Population has increased more rapidly in recent times because of increased life expectancy (including a decrease in infant deaths) and the exponential nature of population growth. People use birth control when they want to avoid having children and they use methods to increase their fertility when they are trying to have children.