LUBBOCK, Texas — Sales of the “morning after pill” surge following all the celebrations on New Year’s Eve, a new study reveals. According to the research, the aftermath of New Year’s 2022 saw a significant spike in contraceptive pill sales in the United States, with over 40,000 additional units sold.
The research estimates a 10-percent increase in emergency contraception sales in the week following New Year’s Day, uncovering a higher likelihood that people engage in unprotected sex during these parties compared to other holidays. This increase is likely due to more sexual activity, possibly because of higher alcohol consumption on these nights.
Unfortunately, New Year’s Eve is also associated with increased sexual assault incidents and limited access to alternative contraception methods due to the shorter holiday hours of clinics, medical offices, and stores.
Researchers from Texas Tech University conducted this study by analyzing retail scan data of levonorgestrel, an over-the-counter medication available without age restrictions since 2013 in the U.S. They focused on sales data from the week following New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, spanning from 2016 to 2022, across U.S. retail outlets.
The findings showed that levonorgestrel sales increased by 0.63 units per 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44 during the week. The research team also examined sales during other holidays traditionally linked with higher rates of unprotected sex, including Valentine’s Day, Independence Day, and St. Patrick’s Day.
Valentine’s Day recorded the highest increase among these holidays, yet it was still only about half of the New Year’s spike. Independence Day saw a 0.2 unit increase in sales, and St. Patrick’s Day experienced a 0.14 unit increase.
“Targeting behavioral risks, prevention strategies to mitigate sexual violence, and improving access to contraception around holidays may limit the risks associated with unprotected vaginal intercourse. Emergency contraception is increasingly crucial in the U.S., particularly for those in regions with abortion bans or severe restrictions,” says Dr. Brandon Wagner, one of the study’s researchers, in a media release. “Future work will explore how other dynamics at play in the U.S. context, including state abortion restrictions, affect emergency contraception purchasing behavior and imply potential public health interventions to provide contraceptive care to those who need it the most.”
The study is published in The BMJ.
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South West News Service writer Isobel Williams contributed to this report.
Gee I wonder why???.?