Timing of contraceptive initiation and association with future sexual and reproductive outcomes.

Study Question: Who initiates contraception before, at the time or after first sexual intercourse and how does timing of initiation affect future sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes?

Summary Answer: Earlier initiation was associated with current utilization of more effective contraception, but had no impact on future unintended pregnancy, abortion or sexually transmitted infection rates, while later initiation was linked to higher rates of unintended pregnancies and abortions.

What Is Known Already: Contraceptive behaviour at first intercourse is associated with later SRH outcomes.

Study Design, Size, Duration: Data were drawn from the FECOND study, the last national SRH study in France, conducted in 2010-2011 by phone among 8645 individuals aged 15-49 years.