Reasons for unprotected intercourse: analysis of the PRAMS survey

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to identify reasons why women had unprotected intercourse that led to an unintended pregnancy. METHODS: As part of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey, women with a recent unintended viable pregnancy were asked after the birth why they had not used birth control. RESULTS: Of 7856 respondents, 33% felt they could not get pregnant at the time of conception, 30% did not really mind if they got pregnant, 22% stated their partner did not want to use contraception, 16% cited side effects, 10% felt they or their partner were sterile, 10% cited access problems and 18% selected "other." Latent class analysis showed seven patterns of response, each identifying strongly with a single reason. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of women with viable unintended pregnancies ending in a birth felt they could not/would not get pregnant at the time of conception. Most women identified with a single reason for having unprotected intercourse.