The new study conducted by the Guttmacher Institute revealed that the rate of the use of emergency contraceptive pill by women has increased more than two folds in 2006-08 as compared to four to six years earlier, before the approval of the use of pills without prescription.

The data given by the National Survey of Family Growth on analysis by the researchers revealed that in 2006-08, emergency contraception (EC) has been used by 9.7% of the women between age group of 15-44 while 3% have consulted doctor.

Megan L. Kavanaugh, a senior research associate at Guttmacher asserted that the rate of consumption of pills is still lower as compared to the degree of freedom for access the medicine has.

The study revealed that in 2006-08, 43% of the women have consulted health-care provider at Planned Parenthood or another family planning clinic while 26% have received been counseled at community health clinic and around
16% have discussed EC at private clinics of the doctors.

The report revealed that on an average the woman had consumed contraceptive pills at their college level, or is unmarried and are between 18-29 years of age.

The pills are not meant for regular use. The pills contain progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone, which is very effective even in preventing pregnancy after 72 hours of sex and is most effective just within next 12 hours of intercourse.

Megan L. Kavanaugh, a senior research associate at the Guttmacher Institute in New York, said, "It has more than doubled since the last time the data were collected".