Study: Emergency birth control is associated with increase in STDs

Economists at the University of Nottingham have linked free emergency birth control with an increase in the rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among teens.

When offered for free, the so-called morning-after pill (MAP) was associated with a 5 percent increase in STDs in adolescents aged 18 and under. Among those 16 or younger, the increase jumped to 12 percent.

Free MAPs have been given away in participating pharmacies in the UK since 1999 as part of the government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, which was designed to reduce the teen conception rate by one-half in a decade.

The investigative team reported that the teen pregnancy rate does appear to have dropped slightly. However, information from the Health Protection Agency's genitourinary medicine clinics indicated that teen STDs were on the rise.

Researchers concluded that public health legislation can occasionally have "unfortunate unintended consequences."

Emergency birth control is no substitute for protected sex. Teens and adults who have engaged in risky sexual behavior may consider investing in online testing services to determine the state of their sexual health.