Who consults for an emergency pill? Survey about
users profile. Comparison between 2008 versus
2011 at the sexual and reproductive health and
family planning centre, Geneva’s University
Hospital, Switzerland
Preti, G1,2; Bettoli, L1,2
1 Unite´ de sante´ sexuelle et de planning familial de Gene`ve;2 Association Romande et Tessinoise des Conseille`res en Sante´ Sexuelle
et reproductive (ARTCOSS), Suisse
Context: In Switzerland, the sexual health and family planning
centres ensure the provision of the emergency pill (EP) at reduced
cost with relevant counselling on sexual and reproductive health
(SRH) matters.
Which kind of profile do women visiting for the emergency pill
at the SRH centre in Geneva have? Can we observe an evolution?
Methods: The first survey took place in 2008 and was repeated in
2011. Both occurred in the months of December and January
(2008: 139 women, 2011: 90 women).
Conclusions: The age of women requiring EP at the SRH centre
was between 14 and 30 years with a majority of women aged
between 16 and 17. Younger women often visit Geneva’s centre
with a friend or a partner. Seventeen percent of all women visit
with their partners.
Lack of contraception is the main reason for EP requests with
40% prevalence, second in line of all requests is condom failure at
39%.
Women from other countries have a higher percentage request
for non-use of contraception than Swiss women.
Approximately a third of the situations have complex psycho-
social elements.
Between 2008 and 2011, we observed an improvement in time
lapses between sexual risk and the EP requests (within 12 hours:
22% in 2011, against 9% in 2008). Also, there are fewer repeated
EP requests when comparing the second survey with the first.
In 2011, we observed that at least 11% of surveyed women had
had repeated unprotected sex, before and after their EP request.