Young people don’t know about their emergency contraception options, but that can change
Our new study, published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, found that timely educational interventions can improve young people's knowledge of their emergency contraceptive (EC) options.
The "last chance" method has gained significance post-Roe, but many young people have limited knowledge of emergency contraceptives, as well as how to access and use them. Of the more than 1,000 community college students included in this diverse and gender-inclusive study, only 4% were aware of the intrauterine device as EC at baseline. While participants had a vague knowledge of EC pills and knew about levonorgestrel pills (Plan B), more than half had not heard of the more effective pill, ulipristal acetate (ella). However, after a 10-minute education session using youth-friendly visuals, the young people in the study showed significant increases in knowledge of different EC methods, and of critically important facts like how time sensitive it is, effectiveness, and need for a prescription. The study demonstrates that improving youth knowledge about EC options may be easily attainable, not only during clinic visits, but also in other community settings.
Read more about the study findings on the UCSF Bixby Center website.
