Efforts to increase the involvement of the commercial sector in providing family planning services are fueled by the realization that donor and public sector funds cannot fully address the growing need for family planning services and by an increasing appreciation of the strengths and advantages of commercial sector health providers. The commercial sector currently plays a significant role, providing contraceptives to about 20 percent of women who use modern methods. Pharmacies are the leading commercial providers of family planning services. Commercial providers are more likely than public sector providers to offer supply methods (i.e., condoms, pills, and vaginals) and less likely to offer clinical methods (i.e., male and female sterilization). They tend to serve people of higher socioeconomic status, although their client base includes people from all socioeconomic groups. Consumers who use commercial providers do so because of the quality, convenience, and privacy of services. Those who prefer public providers do so because of lower prices, although many may be willing to pay more for higher-quality services.