Unintended pregnancy

Unintended pregnancies are pregnancies that are mistimed or unwanted at the time of conception,^[1] also known as unplanned pregnancies.^[2]^[3]

Sexual activity without the use of effective contraception through choice or coercion is the predominant cause of unintended pregnancy. Worldwide, the unintended pregnancy rate is approximately 45% of all pregnancies (for a total of 120 million unintended pregnancies annually), but rates vary in different geographic areas and among different sociodemographic groups.^[4]^[5] Unintended pregnancies may be unwanted pregnancies or mistimed pregnancies.^[6] While unintended pregnancies are the main reason for induced abortions,^[6] unintended pregnancies may also result in other outcomes, such as live births or miscarriages.

Unintended pregnancy has been linked to numerous poor maternal and child health outcomes, regardless of the outcome of the pregnancy.^[6] Efforts to decrease rates of unintended pregnancy have focused on improving access to effective contraception through improved counseling and removing barriers to contraception access.

^ "Unintended Pregnancy". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
^ "Making decisions about unplanned pregnancies". Healthdirect Australia. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
^ "Health matters: reproductive health and pregnancy planning". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
^ Cite error: The named reference Bearak_2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference UNPF_2022-03-30 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b ^c Eisenberg L, Brown SH (1995). The best intentions: unintended pregnancy and the well-being of children and families. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-309-05230-6. Retrieved 2011-09-03.

[Unintended_Pregnancy-1] "Unintended Pregnancy". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 13, 2013.

[2] "Making decisions about unplanned pregnancies". Healthdirect Australia. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2024-04-29.

[3] "Health matters: reproductive health and pregnancy planning". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2024-04-29.

[Bearak_2018-4] Cite error: The named reference Bearak_2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[UNPF_2022-03-30-5] Cite error: The named reference UNPF_2022-03-30 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[BestIntent-6] Eisenberg L, Brown SH (1995). The best intentions: unintended pregnancy and the well-being of children and families. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-309-05230-6. Retrieved 2011-09-03.

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