Reproductive coercion is the deception, lying, or deceit by one sexual partner of the other regarding the partners’ agreed birth control and sexually-transmitted-disease-protection practices. Reproductive coercion can take many forms, and may be perpetrated by women or men. For example, one partner may falsely represent to the other partner the use or continued use of birth control, or otherwise sabotage the partners’ agreed birth control practices. Although this behavior may result in nonconsensual sexual contact, the law generally does not recognize rape or fraud charges based on such behavior—due in part to the difficulty in proving such matters. And the allegation or proof of such behavior will not change a parent’s child support obligations.

In Iowa, reproductive coercion is not explicitly recognized as a separate legal offense under state statutes. However, certain aspects of reproductive coercion may intersect with existing laws related to sexual assault, fraud, or domestic abuse. For instance, if reproductive coercion involves force or threats, it could potentially fall under Iowa's sexual abuse statutes. Nevertheless, proving reproductive coercion in a legal context is challenging due to the private nature of the behavior and the difficulty in providing evidence. Additionally, Iowa law does not allow allegations or proof of reproductive coercion to alter a parent's child support obligations. Child support is determined based on the best interests of the child and the financial circumstances of the parents, irrespective of the circumstances surrounding conception.