An Empirical Investigation on Availability of Emergency Contraception and Sexual Behaviors: Any Causal Effects?

Abstract

This study empirically investigates the causal impacts of the increased availability of emergency contraception (EC) on women’s sexual activities due to state and federal governments’ approval on switching to BTC sales. Women with weakened bargaining power for safe and protected sex would eventually opt for less sexual activities and less sex partners, while some women with multiple sex partners even increase the probability to have unprotected sex without the use of condom. Though this policy is designed to ultimately decrease unintended pregnancy and to reduce abortion rates by offering women another option, the policy-makers should also consider and minimize any unintended consequences such as higher risk of STIs for women by educating them about the multiple risk from unprotected sex, and by mandating EC package to display a warning, etc.