Questionnaire study of use of emergency contraception among teenagers

Easy accessibility and availability of emergency contraception raises contr adictory opinions. Education about emergency contraception is resisted beca use of a fear that it might lead to irresponsible sexual behaviour and repe ated use of emergency contraception instead of regular contraception.(1) In Finland, sales of emergency contraception (the Yuzpe method) increased 1 0-fold from 1987 to the mid-1990s. In 1994 a national survey among 18-44 ye ar old women showed that knowledge and use of the method was concentrated i n the youngest respondents.(2) Reports from other countries confirm that yo ung women and even teenagers are well aware of the method.(3) (4) However, only a few reports have been published on use of emergency contraception am ong adolescents. We studied knowledge of emergency contraception and freque ncy of use among teenagers.