Young women in the United States confronting unintended pregnancies frequently turn to unproven post-coital methods like prayer and exercise rather than evidence-based emergency contraception, according to a study published in The Journal of Sex Research. The survey of 1,259 girls and women between the ages of 15-29 found that a quarter of the 633 respondents who reported having sexual intercourse and were not pregnant used a post-coital method, revealing a distinct gap between clinical efficacy and what adolescents actually try.
Minors and Non-White Respondents Rely on Unproven Methods
Among the 633 respondents who reported having sexual intercourse and were not pregnant, about 16% used methods lacking proven efficacy to prevent pregnancy. These practices included prayer at 9.4%, douching at 6%, jumping up and down or exercising at 3.3%, and ingesting something by mouth at 1.9%. Other reported tactics involved punching one’s stomach or uterus at 1.4%, taking medicine or vitamins at 0.9%, inserting something vaginally at 0.5%, and using an enema at 0.2%. About one-fifth of this group combined multiple unproven approaches, with praying and douching serving as the most common combination. These practices proved more prevalent among minors and non-white respondents.
Evidence-Based Options Lag Behind Folk Practices
While unproven methods captured a 16% share among those utilizing post-coital strategies, only about 9% of that group reported using evidence-based emergency birth control such as Plan B or a copper intrauterine device. This reliance on folk methods arrives as false birth control claims proliferate online and political shifts reshape public health funding.
The study coincides with the Trump administration cutting and reshaping programs like Title X and the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, which were originally created to lower unintended pregnancy rates and provide safe options. The judge ruled, however, that grant funding already cut would not be restored for now. The Trump administration has cast doubt on the safety of hormonal contraception, a view increasingly amplified across social media platforms.
State-Level Policy Changes Restrict Classroom Instruction
Sex education varies widely across the country, with several states modifying their policies this year, according to an analysis by SIECUS. In Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey signed a law requiring sex education to focus on promoting sexual risk avoidance, the updated term for abstinence-only instruction. The legislation prohibits sex education before the fourth grade, bans school districts from partnering with groups that do not promote sexual risk avoidance or that provide abortions, and bars teachers from discussing birth control.
Currently, 15 states offer abstinence-only sex education. Meanwhile, other states adopted contrasting measures. In Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers signed a law requiring instruction on adoption as part of sex education. Additionally, Alabama, Louisiana, and South Dakota enacted laws requiring or requesting fetal development instruction or the viewing of fetal ultrasounds or animated videos in schools. Conversely, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed bills requiring instruction on human trafficking, dating abuse, and digital violence.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Contraception Study
How many people participated in the Journal of Sex Research study?
The study surveyed 1,259 girls and women between the ages of 15-29. Out of that total group, 633 respondents reported having sexual intercourse and were not pregnant.
Which unproven methods were most commonly reported by respondents?
Prayer was the most common unproven method at 9.4%, followed by douching at 6% and jumping up and down or exercising at 3.3%. About one-fifth of respondents who used unproven strategies combined more than one method, with praying and douching being the most frequent combination.
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