Sales of Norlevo are exploding in France. According to a recent study, one in three girls between 15 and 24 years needed this “emergency contraceptive” in 2004.
Sales in morning-after-pills have grown sixfold in the last six years. Since 1999, they’re easy to obtain from a school nurse, and since 2002 under-age girls can get them for free at any pharmacy.
The study mentions that seven out of ten 15-24-year olds claim to do “something to avoid pregnancy”, which leaves three out of ten who don’t. And 60 percent of women who use the contraceptive pill admit they “miss” one at least once a year.
Opinions about the study differ widely. Specialists who deal with sexual and reproductive health matters say there are not enough users of morning-after-pills, pointing at the large numbers of unwanted pregnancies.
Anti-abortion and pro-life groups say the study proves the failure of sexual education, which puts more emphasis on contraception than on “stable and durable relationships”.
The makers of Norlevo probably couldn’t care less. With sales of over a million morning-after-pills last year in France alone, and a distribution network that covers more than 25 other countries, those “oops” experiences mean healthy business.
[tags]France,morning-after-pill[/tags]
