British Doctors To Push For Injections, Implants To Reduce Unwanted Teen Pregnancies

February 6, 2008 10:15 a.m. EST

London, England (AHN) - The British Public Health Department will launch on Wednesday a renewed contraception drive to bring down unwanted pregnancies, especially among teenagers. The campaign will veer away from the pill as the main contraception method, but will push instead for anti-pregnancy devices with longer-term use such as injections and implants.

The ministry has a $19.6 million (10 million pound) allocation for the campaign. Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said the campaign does not intend to shift the balance of contraceptive methods away from the pill.

A recent survey disclosed that British general practitioners do not offer to 75 percent of women patients all forms of contraception. Only 14 percent of British women have hormonal implants or injections, while 35 percent take the pill.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence said $196 million (100 million pound) could be saved by the National Health Service if unwanted pregnancies were prevented.