Azalina Othman Said said unintended pregnancies were often the consequence of women having no right or say over their own bodies, adding that a lack of reproductive health options should not cost a woman her life.

“Reforms, both in terms of legislation and the strengthening of human rights frameworks, are needed to protect and improve access to contraception so that women can choose and plan their pregnancy.

“If we can give girls and women the right to own their bodies, they can own their future,” the Pengerang MP said at a conference on unintended pregnancies organised by the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy.

Galen Centre chief executive officer Azrul Mohd Khalib also stressed the importance of planned pregnancies.

“Being able to plan or decide one’s pregnancy enables women to take control of their future so that they can finish their education and get better jobs.

“It also helps them to plan for their families, rather than being trapped in a cycle of grinding poverty and deprivation,” he said.

According to Azrul, unintended pregnancies were a national concern affecting all segments of society and not just teenagers or women from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“Family planning and reproductive health is not a ‘nice-to-have’, it is an essential investment and part of a strong, robust and resilient healthcare system.”

Meanwhile, Andreas Daugaard Jorgensen, managing director of Organon, emphasised the need to distinguish that “unintended” did not always mean “unwanted”.

“The term includes both unwanted and mistimed pregnancies, mistimed meaning it is not wanted at the current time, but desired at some future point.”

He added there was a need to ensure that high costs did not become a barrier to women gaining access to contraception.

“Cost should not be a barrier to family planning. Women of any reproductive age should not be inhibited from being able to access the contraceptive of their choice due to financial concerns.”