A new Scandinavian study reveals that every second young woman between the age of 18 and 30 has taken a morning-after pill following sex.
The study, compiled by UserNeeds on the behalf of Bayer Healthcare, showed that 46 percent of young Danish women have taken a morning-after pill and that sales have doubled over the past decade.
The health authorities, Sundhedsstyrelsen, said that the increase itself isn’t a problem, but morning-after pills are far from being as effective
”Generally, one can say that morning-after pills are an emergency measure,” Jens Heisterberg, a doctor for Sundhedsstyrelsen, told Metroxpress newspaper.
“It’s best if the couple protect themselves using conventional prevention before or during sex, since the emergency measure is not as effective as birth control pills or condoms.”
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Need more guidance
The figures don’t surprise gynaecologist Christine Felding, who adds that more young women than before are getting abortions and that parents need to take more responsibility.
“Young girls are losing their virginity earlier and earlier and therefore need advice from someone they care about, but unfortunately, parents often turn a blind eye,” Felding said.
Felding contends that a lack of parental guidance leads to young women automatically choosing the birth control pill, even though they would be better served with a form of long-term contraception, like a hormone spiral.
