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Opponents of increasing access to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) for young women worry that it would increase sexual risk behavior. To address this concern, investigators randomized 1490 young women (aged 14–24; 28% <18 years) in Nevada and North Carolina to receive either increased access to ECPs (provided free at study entry and replaced when used or lost) or standard access (information about how to obtain ECPs at usual cost).
During the 1-year study, ECPs were used 2057 times in the increased-access group and 366 times in the standard-access group. No differences were found between the two groups in the number of diagnosed STIs (49 vs. 53 cases, respectively) or contraceptive use (condoms or highly effective hormonal methods). Unfo…