YOUNG WOMEN REQUESTING EC ARE, DESPITE CONTRACEPTIVE COUNSELING, A HIGH RISK GROUP FOR NEW UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES/ABORTIONS

EC [emergency contraception] was introduced in Sweden in 1994. In addition to an unplanned pregnancy, unprotected sexual intercourse may also involve the risk of contracting STDs.

Between 9/1998 – 2/1999 young women aged 15-25 years had the opportunity to obtain EC (Yuzpe method) at a youth clinic in Orebro; hours included Saturdays/Sundays.

A follow-up visit 3 weeks after treatment, which included contraceptive counseling, was offered to all participants. After the initial visit, the women where monitored for new pregnancies during the next 12 months.

Of those requesting EC, 54% did so because no contraception was used, 32% because of a ruptured condom, 11% because of missed oral contraceptives (OC); 5% had mixed reasons.

At follow-up 1 year after the initial visit, 10 of the 134 women had experienced an unplanned pregnancy that terminated in legal abortion in 9 women.

All these women had either started and terminated OC or had never commenced the prescribed OC. Young women who request EC are, despite a planned follow-up with contraceptive counseling, a high risk group for new unintended pregnancies. PMID: 11535209

[from abstract, Contraception. 2001 Jul;64(1):23-7, Falk G, Falk L, Hanson U, Milsom I.; Dept of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Orebro Medical Centre Hospital, Orebro, Sweden.]