Emergency Contraception Pill Use in Intimate Relationships

• In Event: 40820 - Section on Sociology of Sex and Gender Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 16: Fraught Intimacies and Leisure

Abstract

In this paper, I use longitudinal data from The Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) study to examine how a woman’s emergency contraception pill (ECP) usage is related to her contraception use and immediate intimate relationship qualities, specifically relationship seriousness and adverse experiences. I found the following. First, women used ECPs during weeks where effective methods of contraception were used (i.e., birth control pills, withdrawal, and condoms). Second, as a relationship endured, the likelihood of ECP use lowered. Finally, ECP use probability was higher when there was a concurrent sex partner in a non-monogamous relationship. Findings suggest that those who use ECP are not necessarily those who need ECP.

Author

• Da Eun Jung, Indiana University-Bloomington