Sociodemographic and Medical Characteristics of Women Applied for Emergency Contraception—A Retrospective Observational Study

TL;DR

This study examines the sociodemographic and medical traits of women seeking emergency contraception, finding that older age and prior pregnancies correlate with higher reproductive health awareness.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into how lifestyle and reproductive history influence emergency contraception use and health awareness.

Findings

Older age and previous pregnancies are linked to higher reproductive health awareness.

Health-conscious women seek medical consultation sooner after intercourse.

Lifestyle factors significantly influence reproductive health decisions.

Abstract

Background: Lifestyle factors significantly impact overall health. Our aim was to assess reproductive health awareness among patients who applied for emergency contraceptive pills. Methods: This present retrospective observational study between July 2021 and September 2021 is embedded in the MEEC (Motivation and Epidemiology of Emergency Contraceptive Pill) based on the study cohort of a Hungarian data bank containing follow-up data of 447 women who applied for EC telemedicine consultation. Collected data: age, history of previous pregnancy, lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, sexual characteristics: partner consistency and protection during intercourse, cervical cancer screening within the past 2 years, previous HPV screening, and the preference for future contraceptive methods. The investigation also compiled accurate data on intercourse (elapsed time to request a medical consultation). Lifestyle factors were scored. Results: The more health-conscious patients were quicker to report for a post-event pill. Earlier pregnancies and older age were associated with greater reproductive health awareness. Conclusions: Reproductive health awareness is increased by previous pregnancies and older age. More health-conscious women consult a doctor earlier, which can reduce the chance of various health damage. Our study emphasizes the significance of lifestyle factor influence on reproductive health decisions.

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