Background:
Unprotected sex can result in STDs and unintended pregnancy. Short of abstinence, condoms –used consistently – are the only method for preventing both of these outcomes. Women seeking STD services represent a group that may also benefit from family planning (FP) services.

Objective:
To assess the family planning (FP) needs of women attending the NYC STD clinics.

Method:
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (NYC DOHMH) Bureau of STD Control (BSTDC) operates 10 free STD clinics; ~45% of 100,000 patients seen annually are female. Between December 2003 and January 2004, we conducted a cross sectional survey of all women presenting at NYC STD clinics.

Result:
Of the 1,035 women surveyed, 90% (930/1035) did not desire pregnancy and of this group 71% (661/930) were < 29 years of age. Non-Hispanic African American and Hispanic women comprised 53% (548/1035) and 33% (335/1035) among the surveyed group, respectively. Thirty-six percent (310/858) of women reported >1 previous STD episode, 35% (302/849) reported >1 unintended pregnancy, 34% (300/881) reported >1 abortion and 17% (163/981) had previously used emergency contraception. Of women who did not desire pregnancy and were <46 years of age, 76% (620/813) reported inconsistent or no condom use and of these, 74% (447/608) did not report using any other form of contraception.

Conclusion:
Significant proportions of women attending NYC STD clinics do not wish to be pregnant, have a history of unintended pregnancy, and are neither using condoms consistently nor other forms of contraception.

Implications:
STD clinics may be an important setting for integrating STD prevention and FP services. If this is not possible, programs could augment services by providing emergency contraception along with aggressive referral to FP services.