Study Shows Unprotected Sex Spikes on New Year’s Eve, Surpassing Valentine’s Day

The new year will be coming in with a bang. A new scientific study says New Year’s Eve revelers in the US will indulge in unprotected sex at a higher rate than during other holidays — including Valentine’s Day.

Research Based on Sales of Emergency Contraception

The study’s steamy findings are based on the seasonal sale of morning-after pills and other types of emergency contraception, which boozed-up revelers are more likely to use after the year end’s big ball drop, researchers at Texas Tech University wrote in the British Medical Journal this week.

“More than ever, emergency contraception is a critically important option for people in the US, particularly those living in regions with bans or severe restrictions on abortion,” the researchers wrote.

New Year’s Eve Celebrations and Sexual Behavior

“Firstly, New Year’s Eve celebrations are commonly associated with increased sexual behavior,” the study said. “In a survey of American’s views of holidays and their sexual lives, more than 70% of respondents planned to put in extra effort to be sexual with their partner on New Year’s Eve.”

Condom Use and Unprotected Sex

Researchers said Americans are less likely to use condoms during drunken New Year’s Eve hook-ups, making panicked runs to the pharmacy for morning-after alternatives more likely. Overall, the holiday is expected to mean a 10% jump in unprotected sex based on yearly patterns.

Levonorgestrel Sales Spike After New Year’s Eve

Texas Tech largely tracked sales of levonorgestrel, the drug commonly referred to as the morning-after pill that can block pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of intercourse, but can be effective for up to 120 hours, according to the study. The study looked at sales of the drug throughout the year between 2016 and 2022 by women between the ages of 15 and 44 — and found a jump in purchases after New Year’s Eve.

Increase in Sales of Levonorgestrel

Results determined that about 41,000 more levonorgestrel were sold among the nearly 65 million women in the age group in the days following the holiday, the study said.

Unmet Contraceptive Need

The researchers cautioned that, despite the wink-wink subject, it’s no laughing matter. “Although this annual spike in sales might seem humorous, it is indicative of unmet contraceptive need that calls for further attention,” they wrote.