title: Contraception access and use among U.S. servicewomen during deployment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately 12% of active duty US servicewomen have an unintended pregnancy each year; however, little is known about contraception use during deployment.
  
  
  METHODS
  From April to November 2010, we conducted an online survey with a convenience sample of 281 servicewomen who had been deployed overseas to assess access to and use of contraception for deployment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three percent of respondents used birth control for part or all of their last deployment. Although military health insurance covers most contraceptive methods, one third reported that they were unable to access a method they might want for deployment, and 59% did not speak with a military provider about contraceptive options prior to deployment. Certain methods were reportedly discouraged or not available for some women, including intrauterine devices and sterilization, and 41% of women requiring refills found them difficult to obtain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the high prevalence of unintended pregnancy among servicewomen, efforts should focus on improving contraceptive counseling prior to deployment and ensuring refill access during deployment, as well as expanding access to long-acting reversible methods.
authors.affiliation: Ibis Reproductive Health, Oakland, CA 94612, USA.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grindlay
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003376:Counseling; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058749:Military Facilities; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States