Italy: New study examines use of emergency contraception
October 2026. A new study published in Epidemiologia & Prevenzione analyses trends in emergency contraception (EC) use in Italy between 2017 and 2023, and changes in access. In particular, the study examines the impact of the October 2020 decision by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) to allow women under 18 to obtain EC pills with ulipristal acetate (UPA) without a prescription.
Key findings
- EC use in Italy increased significantly between 2017 and 2023.
- Extending prescription free access to EC pills for minors was not associated with changes in trends in hormonal contraceptive use, fertility or induced abortion rates.
- Emergency contraception plays a complementary role in broader reproductive health strategies at the population level.
Read the paper: Emergency contraception in Italy: Utilization patterns and ecological correlation with induced abortion rates, Epidemiologia & Prevenzione.
