A new study found that having access to free birth control methods does not change a woman's attitude and behavior towards sex.
The effectiveness of birth control methods is very important in reducing unplanned pregnancies. According to Planned Parenthood, 28 percent of women use pills while 16 percent choose condom in the United States.
Researchers working with the Contraceptive CHOICE Project , led by Dr. Gina Secura of the Washington University of Medicine, found that women who were given free birth control reported no changes in their sex lives, including the number of partners. The only change noted is the frequency by which they engage in intercourse, from four times a month to six times a month after having access to no-cost birth control.
They followed 7,751 women aged 14 to 45 years old. These women attended a counseling session which taught them the risks and benefits of using birth control. They were also guided in choosing the birth control method that will work for them.
The participants were also asked to answer a survey detailing their sexual history and habits. Phone interviews were conducted for follow-up purposes between six to 12 months after the women have started with their respective birth control methods.
"We didn't see women engage in multiple sex partners after providing them with no-cost contraception," Dr. Secura, told LiveScience. "By providing young women with quality medical care and affordable contraception, this doesn't cause them to go wild."
The study also reported no increase in the rate of sexually transmitted disease. Seventy percent of the respondents reported no change in the number of sexual partners, 16 percent reported an increase, while 13 percent noted that the number of their sexual partners decreased throughout the course of the study. Furthermore, at least 80 percent said that before the study, they had no sexual partner but after receiving birth control, they had one sexual partner.
This study was published in the March 5 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
