Free birth control not means risky sex among teen girls

Washington, March 7: Contrary to fears within a section of the society, women and teen girls who participate in free birth control programmes do not take up riskier sexual practises, a new study shows.

The participants were less likely to have sex with more than one man after the programme began. Though they did have sex a bit more often, they were no more likely to be diagnosed with sexually-transmitted diseases, revealed the study.

The study, involving 9,256 girls and women in the St Louis area, showed the free birth control programme dramatically reduced abortions and unintended pregnancies.

“The latest findings should dispel the idea that the only thing standing between women and promiscuity is a fear of pregnancy,” said
Gina Secura a researcher from Washington University.

Nearly 46 percent girls who were virgins at the beginning of the study were still virgins — despite their earlier intentions to start having. (Story IANS)