Emergency contraception: the user profile

Emergency contraception (EC) has recently become available, accepted and wi dely used in Sweden but little is known about the characteristics and backg round factors of women requesting EC. Methods: During a four-month period, consecutive women (n = 762) visiting f amily planning clinics to request emergency contraception filled out a ques tionnaire about their current need for EC. Results: The user of emergency contraception was typically a nulligravid yo ung woman (83%) but 13% had a previous history of at least one induced abor tion and 4% had given birth in the past. One out of four had used EC before , and of these 20% more than once. Condom breakage was the major reason for the current need for EC but as many as 37% had not discussed the need for contraception prior to intercourse. Friends were the most important source of knowledge about EC. Conclusion: Women requesting emergency contraception could be anyone and em ergency contraception is used to compensate for contraceptive failure in or der to prevent unwanted pregnancies.