Trends in Emergency Contraceptive Use Among Adolescents and Young Adults, 2006-2017.

PURPOSE:In 2013, age restrictions for adolescents on over-the-counter access were removed for "Plan B One-Step", a single oral medication option for emergency contraception use. Restrictions on generic options of the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) were removed in 2014. METHODS:National Survey of Family Growth data were used to assess the prevalence of ever use of ECPs among sexually experienced female adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 15-24 years (2015-2017 sample), and trends in indicators of ECP use and acquisition (2006-2017 samples). Prevalence estimates were obtained by age subgroups for 15-17, 18-19, and 20-24 years. Statistical significance was determined using an alpha of .05 and 95% confidence intervals calculated around the point estimates. RESULTS:The weighted estimate of sexually experienced female AYA in the United States ranged from 13.3 million in 2006-2008 to 12.7 million in 2015-2017. The prevalence of ever ECP use was 18.2% (95% CI 15.7-21.1) and 31.8% (95% CI 26.9-37.1) in 2006-2008 and 2015-2017, respectively. Ever use in 2015-2017 varied by age group, number of lifetime opposite-sex partners and abortions, and experience of nonconsensual sex. In 2008-2010, 46.1% (95% CI 36.0-56.5) of respondents last obtained ECPs at community health or family planning clinics, and 31.8% (95% CI 22.9-42.2) last obtained ECPs at a pharmacy compared to 18.1% (95% CI 12.0-26.4) and 70.1% (95% CI 60.6-78.1) respectively in 2015-2017. Prevalence of provider counseling about emergency contraception in female AYA regardless of prior sexual experience in the past 12 months remained at or below 5% from 2006 to 2017. CONCLUSION:Increasing access to ECPs over-the-counter may have contributed to notable increases in reported ever use of ECPs and in the receipts from a pharmacy among AYA between 2006 and 2017. AYA may benefit if pharmacists and healthcare providers increase reproductive health counseling.