"They even hit their abdomen to prevent pregnancy after sex"... A look at contraception among young people [Experiment Note]

25% of sexually experienced women in the U.S. took steps to prevent pregnancy after sex
16.1% used methods without medical evidence

Worries about pregnancy do not easily disappear even after sex. In case something unexpected happens, some people check their period dates again or try methods they have seen online. In the United States, some young women have been found to pray, wash inside the vagina, or even hit their abdomen to prevent pregnancy. In other words, quite a few still relied on contraceptive methods whose effectiveness has not been medically proven.

Praying and vaginal douching after sex... Young women in U.S. use nonmedical pregnancy prevention methods

A study analyzing post-sex pregnancy prevention behaviors among adolescents and young adults in the United States was recently published in the international journal The Journal of Sex Research.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, led by Riley Steiner, conducted an online survey last year of 1,259 women aged 15 to 29 living in the United States. Of these, the researchers analyzed responses from 633 participants who had had sex and were not currently pregnant. The results showed that 25.0% had taken steps to reduce the chance of pregnancy after their most recent sexual encounter.

What stood out were the methods they chose. A total of 8.9% said they had used methods with medically established effectiveness, such as emergency contraceptive pills or copper intrauterine devices. By contrast, 16.1% had used methods with no established medical evidence, a higher proportion.

The most common behavior was "praying," at 9.4%. This was followed by "washing inside the vagina," at 6.0%, and "jumping or exercising," at 3.3%. A total of 1.9% said they had "eaten or drunk something," while 1.4% said they had "hit their abdomen or uterus." Another 0.9% said they had "taken vitamins or medication," and 0.5% said they had "inserted an object into the vagina." Among respondents who used methods without medical evidence, about one in five used two or more methods together. Combining prayer with vaginal washing was the most common example.

The researchers said these behaviors were relatively more common among minors and nonwhite respondents. The higher their level of contraceptive knowledge, the less likely they were to engage in post-sex pregnancy prevention behaviors without medical evidence.

Various contraceptives. Unsplash

62% of Korean women use contraception, but fewer than 40% use evidence-based methods

In South Korea, the proportion of people using highly effective contraceptive methods remains below half. According to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs report "Contraceptive Use Among Korean Women: Current Status and Implications," released last July, 62.0% of women aged 19 to 39 who had had sex in the past year said they had always used contraception, based on data for 2025. However, fewer than 40% used evidence-based contraceptive methods exclusively.

The most common reason for not using contraception every time was that the respondent or their partner had not prepared a condom or other contraceptive device, at 76.5%. A total of 52.9% said they thought the chance of pregnancy was low, while 47.1% said they thought their partner was using sufficient contraception. Another 35.3% said their partner did not want to use contraception.

Reasons for not using contraception every time differed by age group. Among adolescents, the most common response, at 76.5%, was that they or their sexual partner had not prepared a condom or other contraceptive device. A total of 52.9% said they thought pregnancy would be unlikely, while 47.1% said they thought their partner was using sufficient contraception. Another 35.3% said their partner did not want to use contraception.

Among young adults, the most common response, at 42.1%, was that they thought the chance of pregnancy was low. This was followed by discomfort with using contraceptive devices, at 36.5%. Another 26.4% said they or their partner had not prepared a contraceptive device. A total of 25.2% said their partner did not want to use contraception.

Contraception starts before sex, not after

Contraception needs to be planned before sex, not afterward. The World Health Organization (WHO) says condoms are the only contraceptive method that is effective both in preventing unintended pregnancy and in protecting against sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Fertility awareness methods and withdrawal may be less effective at preventing pregnancy, and they do not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

If contraception fails or sex takes place without contraception, medically proven emergency contraceptive methods can be considered. Emergency contraceptive pills should be taken as soon as possible after sex, while copper intrauterine devices are known to be more than 99% effective when inserted within five days of sex.

Contraception is more than simply a way to avoid pregnancy. It is also a basic means of making decisions about one's own body and sex life, and of protecting one's health from sexually transmitted infections.

Because each contraceptive method has different benefits and limitations, it is important to choose a method that is suitable for you based on accurate information and to use it correctly. In its report, the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs stressed that "education and the provision of information should be further strengthened so that contraception is recognized as a means of managing sexual health that goes beyond pregnancy control."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.