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Australia’s leading sexual and reproductive healthcare organisation today called on the Commonwealth Government to put the spotlight on contraception following research showing the majority of women were using contraception at the time of their unplanned pregnancy.

“Of the 2,041 women who commenced the study, 1,033 women confirmed having experienced an unplanned pregnancy, and 60% of those were using at least one form of contraception at the time,” said Jill Michelson, Acting Australian CEO of Marie Stopes International.

“These figures are proof of the need to increase the range of contraceptive options in Australia, invest in research to improve contraceptive efficacy and implement a dedicated contraceptive user education campaign.”

Other key findings in the report - Real Choices: Women, Contraception & Unplanned Pregnancy - include:

• At the time of their unplanned pregnancy, the largest group of women using contraception were on the pill (43%), while 22% were using a condom.
• Nearly half of all women do not take into consideration protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when choosing their method of contraception.
• 1 in 10 women either rarely or never felt comfortable to ask their partner to wear a condom.
• 36% of women who were not using contraception at the time of their unplanned pregnancy had not been planning or expecting to have sex.
• 17% of women who hadn’t used contraception at the time of their unplanned pregnancy believed they weren’t fertile, or wouldn’t become pregnant.
• 21% of the women using contraception at the time of their unplanned pregnancy were using more than one method.
• 80% of women didn’t seek emergency contraception and of those, 44% did not because they thought they would not become pregnant.
• 63% were aged 24 or younger at the time of their unplanned pregnancy.
• Nearly three quarters of women (74%) want governments to expand women’s reproductive options by improving their access to a range of contraception, with 70% supporting guaranteed paid maternity leave.

“Unplanned pregnancy is clearly a key health issue for Australian women and this research provides insight into the reality of reproductive choice – a reality that the Rudd Government needs to address urgently,” Ms Michelson said.

Cait Calcutt, Coordinator of Children by Choice, a Queensland based unplanned pregnancy counselling and information service that refers for all options, said that the research indicates that many women who are clear they do not want to have a child go to significant efforts to avoid pregnancy.

“The World Health Organisation states that even if couples use contraception correctly 100% of the time, there would be close to 6 million unplanned pregnancies each year,” Ms Calcutt said.

“However, this research shows that women aren’t using abortion as a form of contraception, and such a view is misguided and unfounded.

“When unplanned pregnancy does occur it is vital that women have access to the support necessary for them to make a real choice - everything from paid maternity leave to safe and legal abortion services.”

Real Choices: Women, Contraception & Unplanned Pregnancy was commissioned by Marie Stopes International and conducted by WebSurvey, enlisting the database of Pureprofile to select the sample. Invitations were extended so as to obtain weighted samples with regard to age and residency by state as ascertained by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. A copy of the research key findings can be downloaded from http://www.mariestopes.com.au/research or see attachment below.

About Marie Stopes International: Marie Stopes International is a not-for-profit sexual and reproductive healthcare provider, with 10 centres in the ACT, Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. The organisation offers a range of services, including abortion, vasectomy, sexually transmitted infection check-ups and contraception. Surplus proceeds from Australian activities support the work of the Marie Stopes International Partnership, which delivers sexual and reproductive health services to over four million people in 38 countries worldwide.

For media enquiries contact: Samantha Smith, Public Relations - 0421 097 150