Failure of family-planning referral and high interest in advanced provision emergency contraception among women contacted for STD partner notification.

BACKGROUND

Few data are available on the risk of unintended pregnancy in women with STD or how contraceptive services can be integrated into STD control activities.

OBJECTIVE

To define the risk for unintended pregnancy and assess the effectiveness of family-planning (FP) referral and interest in advanced provision emergency contraception (APEC) among women with gonorrhea or chlamydial infection.

METHODS

Female participants in a randomized trial of different approaches to partner notification were interviewed, offered referral for FP services and asked if they would want APEC.

RESULTS

Among participants ages 14-24, the observed past pregnancy rate and age-adjusted anticipated past pregnancy rate were, respectively, 196 and 72 per 1000 women-years. Of 474 nonpregnant participants who did not desire pregnancy, 127 (34%) were using no contraception or condoms alone, of whom 8 (6%) requested a FP appointment and 81% wanted APEC.

CONCLUSIONS

Women treated for STD are at high-risk for unintended pregnancy. Although referral for FP was ineffective, interest in APEC was very high.