Almost half do not understand their fertility cycle

ALMOST half of women do not understand their monthly fertility cycle and one-in-two under the age of 25 have experienced a crisis pregnancy.

In addition 65% of women were not able to identify the 72-hour effectiveness limit for the morning-after pill.

These were among the results of the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships published yesterday, which examined people’s knowledge, attitudes and experience of sex.

7,441 adults were interviewed for the survey during 2004/2005.

It found 56% of women under the age of 25 had experienced a crisis pregnancy. One-in-six women who got pregnant unintentionally had an abortion.

Women who had sex before the age of 17 were twice as likely to go on to have an unplanned pregnancy.

The study’s authors said the findings revealed an urgent need to focus on improved sexual education.

“Overall knowledge of sexual health issues among Irish people is not good, although it varies both across the population and across different questions. Knowledge is worst on emergency contraception,” it said.

The survey also found condoms are the most popular method of contraception.

Men who had sex for the first time before they were 17 were the least likely to use condoms.

Religious beliefs rather than age and gender had the biggest influence on people’s choices.

The survey revealed a big culture shift in attitudes to contraception and abortion.

* 84% said the use of emergency contraception was never or only sometimes wrong, attitudes among men and women were similar.

* Half of those surveyed said emergency contraception should be available over the counter.

* 12% of women said weight gain would discourage them from using the contraceptive pill. One-in- three said cost was an issue.

* 44% of women were incorrect in their understanding of their fertility cycle.

* The proportion of people agreeing that abortion is always wrong fell from 74% in 1981 to 36% in 2005.

* 6.4% believe sex outside marriage is always wrong.

The report’s authors said the results should warn decision makers about where public information campaigns need to be focused.

“These findings point to a number of areas for targeting adult-education campaigns. The fact that 18-24 year-old women and women in a casual relationship were more likely to require more information about contraception may reflect their current sexual situation, since women in these groups are less likely to desire pregnancy,” it said.