1977 fertility histories of 4100 Norwegian women between ages 18-44 were used to study the innovation pattern of modern contraception in relation to regional and social variables. 84% of women who could have become pregnant during the 4 weeks prior to this survey had used birth control methods. Only 7% of those not desiring a pregnancy failed to use birth control. The IUD was the most frequently used method of contraception (34%), then condom (22%) and the pill (20%). Women from urban areas were more apt to use IUD and the pills than the more traditonal methods preferred by rural women. Higher percentages of women with higher education use contraception, but patterns of use do not differ significantly among social groups. In summarizing changes in the pattern of use during the 1960's and 1970's, researchers found that age at first birth in Norway is now older, while sexual debuts are occuring earlier.