Unintended pregnancy

A pregnancy that was unwanted at conception or occurred earlier than desired. The term describes a mismatch between a pregnancy and a person’s intentions at that time.

Contraception: Methods and practices used to prevent pregnancy. Contraception can reduce the chance that sex results in a pregnancy before it is desired.
Abortion: The termination of a pregnancy by medication or a medical procedure. Some people respond to an unintended pregnancy by choosing abortion.
London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy: A validated questionnaire that scores pregnancy planning using intentions, timing, and contraceptive behavior. It offers a graded measure rather than a simple planned-or-unplanned classification.
Wantedness: The degree to which a pregnancy or child is desired by a person or family. Wantedness focuses on desire, while unintendedness also includes pregnancies that occur too soon.
Contraceptive failure: A pregnancy occurring despite an attempt to use contraception. Some unintended pregnancies follow method failure or inconsistent use.
Prenatal care: Health care provided during pregnancy to monitor and support the health of the pregnant person and fetus. A pregnancy that was not planned may begin care later than a planned pregnancy.
Demographic and Health Surveys: Nationally representative surveys that collect data on health, fertility, and family planning. These surveys have been used to estimate unintended pregnancy and related patterns.
Mistimed pregnancy: A pregnancy that occurs earlier than the person wanted, though a pregnancy was desired eventually. This is the timing-related subtype of unintended pregnancy.
Emergency contraception: Methods used after sex to reduce the chance of pregnancy. It can prevent some pregnancies after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure.
Maternal health: The health of people during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Pregnancy intentions and the conditions surrounding pregnancy can affect maternal health.

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