Research into the backgrounds of unwanted pregnancies and into the decision-making behaviour in the event of an unwanted pregnancy forms the basis of developing a more precise understanding of the needs of those affected and concluding what kind of measures are needed. The Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung commissioned the Institut für Angewandte Sexualwissenschaft (institute of applied sexology) at the Hochschule Merseburg (FH) to deliver an expert report. The goal is to address and justify the potential need for further research in more detail and to develop suggestions for methodological implementation.

The present expert report is designed to investigate whether and to what extent further research into unwanted pregnancies and pregnancy conflicts is necessary. The following questions will be the focus when evaluating the statistical material and the available literature under the inclusion of expert talks with counsellors, doctors and representatives of relevant associations:

• Do changing social framework conditions have an influence on the making of decisions regarding unplanned pregnancies and if so, to what extent?
• What influences do cultural traditions (East–West, migrant background), values (religious or other attitudes) and public discourse have and what changes deserve special attention here?
• Do real or anticipated social living and working conditions influence the decision-making behaviour and if so, to what extent? What population groups are particularly affected here (single mothers, women graduates, women receiving unemployment benefit, women in precarious occupational situations, women with a migrant background)? How significant is the educational and social status of the women and couples when it comes to their decision-making behaviour?
• What role do relationship and family concepts and situations play in the decision-making process/ What has changed in this regard? How do the presence, living situation and attitude of the partner influence the woman’s experience of the pregnancy as unwanted, how do they influence her decision-making behaviour?
• Are there any features that deserve special attention in the different age groups? What aspects are particularly significant for women aged between 25 and 35? Are there distinctions to be made here regarding social, educational and cultural aspects?
• What need for action and services do experts consider as being particularly important and in need of expanding? What role do the different services, counsellors and doctors play in this context?

One conceptual and methodological aspect is that the subject of pregnancy termination cannot be seen in isolation anymore. Family planning is life planning. The increasing complexity and flexibility of living and working worlds make it likely that “family planning will become even more complicated,” [1], as individual as the decisions themselves. Every pregnancy has its aspects of conflict and is associated with a decision and reassurance about this decision; this is particularly true for unplanned and unwanted pregnancies.

[1] Helfferich et al. 2001