A Frisky Continent: European Women's Attitudes to Sex and Emergency Contraception Revealed!

London (ots/PRNewswire) -

Direct access to the morning after pill in pharmacy has made
making asmart, positive decision easier, for women not ready to have
a baby

New research, released on International Women's Day, shows that
across Europe, more than three in four women (77%) are aware of the
morning after pill as an option for managing the risk of an unplanned
pregnancy after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.[1]

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160304/340564-INFO )

Just 12 months ago, access to emergency contraception was a
different story, with women in Germany, Italy and Croatia requiring
an appointment with their GP to access the morning after pill. The
treatment is most effective when taken as soon as possible after
contraceptive failure and this was clearly an obstacle for women
seeking the best chance of avoiding pregnancy.

Now, one year on, following a ruling by the European Commission,
the ellaOne (ulipristal acetate 30mg) emergency contraceptive pill,
is available to 25 EU member states via pharmacy. As a result, more
than 114 million women in Europe now have direct access to the latest
emergency contraceptive pill.[2]

Sexual behaviour

The research which looks at the sexual behaviour of women in 20
European markets shows that women aged between 26-35 years are having
more sexual encounters than their younger counter parts. The findings
show 1 in 5 (21%) 16-25 year old women say they have no sexual
encounters on an average week vs just 8% of 26-35 year olds in the
same position. Young Bulgarians proved to be the raciest group
averaging at four encounters a week, second only to 26-35 year old
Finnish women who enjoy sex five times a week!

The weekend was naturally more popular for a bedroom frolic - 76%
of women enjoy a liaison on a Saturday - but for Finland sexual
activity was much more consistent across the week, averaging at 42%
of women who engage in sexual relations Monday-Thursday.

The study also reveals the importance of sex with more than half
(52%) of women citing being spontaneous as a key sign of a satisfying
sex life along with being in a secure relationship (74%), looking hot
for a partner (55%). Interestingly, Southerners (Spain, Italy, Greece
and Portugal) are more interested in trying out new sexual positions
(34%) than their Northern friends. While 1 in 5 ladies in Spain and
in the Czech Republic (19% and 22% respectively) attribute the use of
bedroom toys as being key to a satisfying sex life (vs 12% European
average).

But with spontaneity often comes the risk of unplanned pregnancy
and this may be behind the reason why across Europe, 45% of all
pregnancies are unintended.[3] "We understand that women don't want
sex to be planned and so in instances where unprotected sex has
occurred, which is the case in 30% of sexual intercourses,[4] the
emergency contraceptive pill is a smart, positive, choice, to remove
that uncertainty," says Frédérique Welgryn, Women's Health
Therapeutic Domain Director from HRA Pharma, the manufacturer of
ellaOne.

Interestingly, whilst overall seven in 10 European women would
visit their local pharmacy should they need the emergency
contraception pill, women in Italy and Germany would be more likely
to seek an appointment with their GP.

"Giving women the freedom to buy the morning after pill from their
local pharmacy empowers them to choose the contraceptive option
that's right for them, whatever the circumstances," continues
Frédérique Welgryn, Women's Health Therapeutic Domain Director .
"Emergency contraception is not a regular form of contraception but
is an effective choice for women who have had a contraceptive failure
but who are not ready to have a baby and having access to this
treatment at any time of day, without making an appointment is
critical to making this choice valuable."

"International Women's Day celebrates the equality of women and we
fully support the efforts and progress made on empowering the
achievements of women across the social, economic, cultural and
political spheres," concludes Frédérique Welgryn, Women's Health
Therapeutic Domain Director . "Knowledge and understanding of the
role of emergency contraception is part of this equality journey -
putting women of all ages in complete control of their contraceptive
choices."

Notes to editor

About emergency contraception and ellaOne

There are different types of emergency contraception available;
these include the emergency contraceptive pill and emergency
intrauterine device (IUD).[5] Emergency contraceptive pills are
commonly known as 'morning after pills', because it is best to take
them as soon as possible after unprotected
(http://www.ellaone.co.uk/emergency-contraception-right/) sex
(http://www.ellaone.co.uk/emergency-contraception-right/).[5] The
morning after pill is an emergency contraception, which acts before
pregnancy occurs. If a woman is already pregnant, it is too late for
emergency contraception.

Last year, following the European Commission's keynote ruling,
authorising ellaOne® to be accessible direct from pharmacies
throughout the European Union (EU), the pill's owner, HRA Pharma, has
embarked on an ambitious roll out program to ensure the product is
made available across EU.

Before the landmark decision was reached, most EU countries
required a prescription from a doctor in order for women to gain
access to the morning-after pill. Now, ellaOne® is eventually
available without prescription to over 100 million women.

Women of all ages are now able to get ellaOne® quickly in order to
prevent unplanned pregnancies which enables them to take control of
their own future.

About HRA Pharma

HRA Pharma is a privately-held European pharmaceutical company
that designs products, devices and supporting services in niche areas
of health and makes them available to doctors and patients worldwide.
The company targets therapeutic gaps in the areas of reproductive
health and endocrinology, and uses innovative marketing solutions and
socially-conscious programs to promote healthy management of drugs
and diseases. Headquartered in Paris, France and with subsidiaries
across Western Europe, HRA Pharma has built a strong network of R&D,
manufacturing, distribution and NGO partners which enables it to
satisfy critical patient needs and improve patient health in over 80
countries across the globe. Visit http://www.hra-pharma.com for more
information.

References

1. ellaOne consumer research, Harris Interactive European research
n=4,600, February 2016
2. Brache V et al. Ulipristal acetate prevents ovulation more
effectively than levonorgestrel: analysis of pooled data from
three randomized trials of emergency contraception regimens.
Contraception 2013;88:611-18
3. Guttmacher Institute. Sedgh, et al, Intended and Unintended
Pregnancies Worldwide, 2014
4. Nappi et al. Use of and attitudes towards emergency contraception:
A survey of women in five European countries, Eur Journal of
Contraception and Reproductive Health Care. 2014; 19(2): 93-101
5. NHS choices. Emergency contraception. 2015. Available from: http:
//www.nhs.uk/Conditions/contraception-guide/Pages/emergency-contra
ception.aspx. [Last accessed 22 February 2016]

ots Originaltext: HRA Pharma Deutschland GmbH
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Zosia Kotas
Manager: zkotas@golin.com or +44(0)20-7067-0527. Claire Anderson
Director: canderson@golin.com or +44(0)207-067-0676. Karina Bugnon
Communication Officer: k.bugnon@hra-pharma.com or +33140331130.