Free birth control cuts teen pregnancy, abortions

A study shows that giving teens free birth control encourages them to use long-acting methods and greatly cuts the chances they will become pregnant or have an abortion.

The study involved a project in St. Louis that offered 1,400 girls their choice of methods but stressed the benefits of IUDs and hormone implants that last three to 10 years over less reliable methods like birth control pills and condoms.

The average annual pregnancy rate was only one-fifth of the national average for sexually active teens. Birth and abortion rates also were much lower for teens offered free birth control.

The project also included about 7,500 older women. Similar results for the group as a whole were reported two years ago.

Results are in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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