Many women in abortion care did not use contraceptives; Better information needed

Many women who got an abortion did not use contraceptives to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, Rutgers found in new research. The expertise center for sexuality is concerned about a lack of knowledge and misinformation about fertility, contraceptives, and the chance of getting pregnant.

Rutgers surveyed women aged 16 and older who had requested an abortion. 41 percent had not used contraception. “It is striking that this group is so large,” Rutgers researcher Renee Finkenflügel told NOS. “We know for sure that the women who participated in the study became pregnant unintentionally. There seems to be a lack of information and knowledge about the means to prevent this.”

When asked why they didn’t use contraception, the most frequent answer was that the women considered the chance of pregnancy to be small (44%). Some thought they couldn’t get pregnant at all, while others had not considered the possibility. Women also said that they did not want to use hormones (42%), or that they stopped using contraception because they struggled with the side effects (30%).

Others had tried to prevent pregnancy by using a condom or keeping track of the days on which they were fertile by measuring their temperature or looking at their vaginal discharge, often also using an app or calendar to track their cycle. Some women took a morning-after pill after unprotected sex, but this method does not always work.

“I am not surprised that women choose natural methods of contraception,” Finkenflügel said, referring to an earlier study showing that natural methods were on the rise, partly thanks to influencers. The researcher called it important that people choose a method that suits them, and that they do so knowing the efficacy of the method along with possible side effects. It is also important to re-evaluate the chosen method after a while and consider an alternative if it isn’t working for you.

Combating disinformation is also essential. Spreading the right knowledge about the subject, also among men, helps with that. “We at Rutgers do that, but it is also important that the government plays a role in this,” Finkenflügel said.