contraceptives--postcoital and Infertility

In 1996, the Japan Family Planning Association (JFPA) began providing the morning-after pill to women seeking emergency contraception. An infertility hotline was also established. Last year, JFPA's Reproductive Health Center in Ichigaya, Tokyo, was chosen to be one of the model clinics for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Women's Health program. This program will provide counseling, clinical, motivational, and educational activities for women of all ages. Currently, the Center operates an Open House for adolescents seeking information about sex-related problems. Telephone counseling, clinical services covering contraception and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), referrals, and educational services designed especially for adolescents are provided. The nongovernmental organization (NGO) also develops information, education, and communication (IEC) materials and approaches for teenagers. The infertility hotline received 3925 calls the day it was started: January 7. It received 4315 on January 15, 4414 on January 22, and 3123 on January 28; this highlights the problem infertility presents in Japan. The telephone counseling program for youth received over 6000 calls from April 1, 1996 to March 31, 1997. 2655 young people received services from the clinic during the same period. Young women who called were concerned about amenorrhea (33.7%), unwanted pregnancy (12.9%), gynecological problems (7.7%), and STDs (4.4%). Young men were concerned about foreskins (19.4%), masturbation (17.5%), penis size (11.8%), and STDs (1.3%).

Topics: Adolescent; Age Factors; Asia; Asia, Eastern; Communication; Contraceptives, Postcoital; Demography; Developed Countries; Education; Family Planning Services; Government Programs; Health; Health Planning; Infertility; Information Services; Japan; Organization and Administration; Organizations; Population; Population Characteristics; Reproduction; Reproductive Medicine; Sex Education