Free Birth Control does not Encourage Risky Sexual Behaviors Among Women: Study

Though parents may worry about their children getting involved in sexual relationships early on, a recent study shows that offering them a means of protection via condoms and birth control pills will not encourage youth to engage in risky sexual behaviors. 

"The notion that women will have sex with more partners if you give them free birth control didn't pan out in this study," said Jeffrey Peipert, MD, PhD, the study's senior author and the Robert J. Terry Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, via a press release. "Providing no-cost contraception did not result in riskier sexual behavior."

For the study, researchers examined data provided by the Contraceptive CHOICE Project. The information was based on 9,256 women living in St. Louis, Mo., who were considered at high-risk for accidental pregnancy. This included those from ages 14 to 45, with a little less than half who never had a child and 62 percent who had a previous unintended pregnancy. Thirty-nine percent of the women also had financial problems, while 35 percent received public assistance, and 32 percent had only a high school education or less.

After knowing about all their choices, the participants were allowed to pick whichever contraceptive method fit them best. At the six and 12-month marks, the women were interviewed regarding their sexual behaviors since receiving free birth control. The findings showed that the number of women who had multiple partners declined throughout the study from 5.2 percent reporting more than one male sex partner at the beginning of the study then down to 3.5 percent at six-months and then again 3.3 percent at 12 months. At 70 percent, the majority of the women did not have more or fewer sexual partners at both times, with 13 to 14 percent stating that they slept with fewer people. However, 16 percent also said they had more sexual partners.

Lastly, the researchers discovered that from the beginning of the study to the six and 12-month marks, the number of episodes in which women had involved themselves in a one night stand increased from four to six episodes within the past 30 days of the survey. However, an increase in sexually transmitted infections during the period was not noted. Thus, many researchers said they believe that these protective means play a role in helping to prevent the spread of STDs and unplanned pregnancies.

"It's not the contraception that drives their sexual behavior," Peipert concluded, via Medical Xpress. 

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.