Morning after pills sales are expected to spike by 10 percent in the first week of the new year, experts have warned. Why? Because, as a nation, we are having more unprotected sex on New Year's Eve than any other holiday, according to a new study.
In a paper published in the Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal, researchers from Texas Tech University assessed the sales of emergency contraception in the days immediately after the New Year's celebrations. Specifically, they analyzed sales data for levonorgestrel, the active ingredient in Plan B and most other over-the-counter morning after pills.
Levonorgestrel works by delaying or inhibiting ovulation. It also causes a thickening of the mucus that lines the cervix, making it harder for sperm to get through. It does not, however, terminate a pregnancy.
Despite being called "the morning after pill," levonorgestrel is effective when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, although it is more likely to work the sooner it is taken. (Other morning after pills based on ulipristal acetate, such as ella, can be effective for up to five days.)
In their study, the team focused on sales of levonorgestrel in the week following New Year's Eve from 2016 to 2022 in retail outlets across the United States. Overall, they found that sales of levonorgestrel increased by 0.63 units per 1,000 women aged between 15 and 44, equating to roughly 41,000 additional pills.
The researchers also considered other holidays that might be associated with a spike in sexual activity, including Valentine's Day, Independence Day and St. Patrick's Day. While these holidays were associated with an increase, this was significantly less than what was seen for New Year's Eve.
Meanwhile, holidays like Mother's Day, Father's Day and Easter were not associated with an increase.
While the conclusion that NYE is the sexiest holiday may seem light-hearted, the researchers warned that the spike is actually "indicative of unmet contraceptive need that calls for further attention." This comes amid tightening restrictions on abortion in many states.
The researchers did point out some limitations to their results, such as the fact that morning-after pill sales are not necessarily synonymous with their use, and their data does not include emergency contraception acquired from medical clinics and online sales.
Even so, they believe that their data suggests that improving access to contraception and prevention strategies to mitigate sexual violence around the holidays may limit the risks associated with this rise in activity.
"More than ever, emergency contraception is a critically important option for people in the US, particularly those living in regions with bans or severe restrictions on abortion," the researchers said.
"Future work will explore how other dynamics at play in the US context, including state abortion restrictions, affect emergency contraception purchasing behavior and imply potential public health interventions to provide contraceptive care to those who need it the most."
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