Unwanted pregnancy: What you need to know

This article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Truong Nghia Binh - Obstetrician-Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital. Doctor has more than 13 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Most unwanted pregnancies are caused by not using birth control or using it the wrong way. To prevent unwanted pregnancy, couples need to clearly define their fertility plans.

The only form of birth control that is 100% effective is not having sex. Condoms, birth control pills or IUDs and other methods of contraception are up to 90% effective in preventing pregnancy. Sterilization in women or vasectomy in men, the rate of unintended pregnancy occurs less than 1%.
If you use the wrong method of birth control, your chances of getting pregnant are increased, such as if a condom breaks. In that case, you can use birth control pills right away to prevent pregnancy for up to 5 days after having sex. But if you don't find out there's a problem with the condom or you don't take the pill every day, you could be pregnant.

The biggest reason for an unplanned pregnancy is not because birth control isn't working, but from not using any contraception. Some women don't regularly use birth control, don't like it themselves, or maybe even their partner doesn't want them to use it.
Many couples are not sure if they want to have children themselves but do not have any method to actively prevent pregnancy. And in the end, they got pregnant in confusion. Therefore, if you still have periods but are not regular, and you do not want to get pregnant, you should use birth control.
When you go through menopause (meaning you have not had a period for about 1 year) you can have sex without using contraception and you will not have a chance to get pregnant pregnant. Using birth control, however, helps you protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases.

A total of 1,184,758 legal abortions were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1997 (the most recent year for which statistics are available) - a 3% decrease from the previous year. , according to a report published last year by the CDC. 23% of abortions are performed in women 19 years of age or younger; 32% for women between the ages of 20 and 24; and the majority, 48%, in women over the age of 25. In addition, the total number of abortions performed among women of all ages in 1997 was the lowest since 1978, and the rate (number of abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age) and rate (number of abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age) abortions per 1,000 live births) is the lowest since 1975.
According to experts, the falling abortion rate is due to family planning practices. Family planning includes abstinence from sex, birth control, and other methods. The population is getting old.
Another reason for the drop in abortion rates is younger people's greater access to birth control. In addition to using condoms and birth control pills, women can choose to inject drugs to prevent pregnancy. One shot will be effective for 3 months, which is more convenient than taking the pill every day. In addition, couples can use emergency contraception, take birth control pills within 72 hours of unprotected sex, or put on an IUD after sex. Emergency contraception is used only when other methods of contraception have failed or when contraception is not planned.
In some cases, having sex only once a week and ejaculating outside, they think the chances of pregnancy are very low. However, there is still a certain percentage that can get pregnant and at this point, they themselves have no choice but to have an abortion.

By increasing awareness about the spread of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases, the percentage of people using condoms is increasing.
The rate of abortion is currently on a downward trend, but there is still a need to raise public awareness about reproductive planning because most abortions are the result of an unwanted pregnancy.

If you want to prevent pregnancy, you need to provide a number of contraceptive services, including:
Safe methods of contraception Identify safe methods of contraception for yourself Choose the right method of contraception and learn how used for best results Women of childbearing age can make health and wellness choices that help keep themselves healthy, and if they choose to become pregnant, stay healthy themselves The new born baby is healthy. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is one way women can get ready for the healthiest pregnancy possible.
Unintended pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of problems for mother and baby. If the mother does not plan to get pregnant, she may engage in unhealthy behaviors or delay health care during pregnancy, which can affect the health of the baby. Therefore, it is important for all women of reproductive age to lead a healthy lifestyle such as:
Take folic acid Maintain a healthy weight and eat healthy Regularly exercise No smoking Avoid drinking too much Alcohol Abstain from alcohol if you want to become pregnant or are pregnant Take medication only as prescribed by your doctor Tell your doctor if you have a chronic medical condition Understand your health risks when you are pregnant Use effective, accurate and consistent birth control if you are sexually active but choose to delay or avoid pregnancy. In 2008, more than half of all pregnancies (51%) were unintended. By 2011, the rate of unintended pregnancies had dropped to 45%. That's an improvement, but some groups still tend to have higher rates of unintended pregnancy. For example, 75% of pregnancies are unintended in adolescents aged 15 to 19 years. The rate of unintended pregnancy per 1,000 women is highest among women:
Ages 18 to 24. Low income Has not finished high school. Cohabited but not married. Some measures to prevent unwanted pregnancy include: Giving teenagers access to family planning services, as well as increasing health awareness of unwanted pregnancy; Counseling on contraception for both men and women; Improve family planning services, increase access to contraceptive services.

References: Cdc.gov and Webmd.com