There is a tendency to forget that contraception - and the decision to use it- involves two persons. This is so the world over, but it can have particular significance in societies where the status of women means they have little freedom of choice compared with their husband or partner. In a rigorous analysis of survey data from three African countries, Armelle ANDRO and Veronique HERTRICH show male demand for contraception to be very low in some countries. Even among women, where demand for contraception is greater, high fertility remains greatly prized. With male and female partners alike still reporting an ideal family size of 6 children or more at age 35, and with fewer than 25% of women and 10% of men at that age wanting to stop childbearing once and for all, it is clear why contraceptive practice remains very limited.