Exploring the Experiences of Ontario Postsecondary Students With the Emergency Contraception Pill

OBJECTIVES: This research aimed to explore how female postsecondary students in Ontario describe their experiences of obtaining the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP), and what methods and strategies they used to obtain ECP. METHODS: Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 11 female postsecondary students in Ontario who have taken ECP occurred in January 2024. Participants were 18-23 years old and included undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. Anonymized transcripts were analyzed using interpretative phenomenology. RESULTS: The decision of how to obtain emergency contraception pills was impacted by a lack of accurate information. Participants used various methods to access emergency contraception pills, including drawing attention away from themselves, obtaining emergency contraception pills in a group, or having intimate partners purchase emergency contraception pills. Stigma and perception of judgement influenced participants' experiences obtaining emergency contraception pills. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of obtaining emergency contraception pills was negative but necessary to avoid pregnancy for participants. Women in this qualitative study used alternative strategies to obtain emergency contraception pills due to the experience of a lack of body autonomy, misinformation, and access.