Only 39% of women attending family planning clinics in the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust area opted for oral contraception as their main method of birth control during 1999-2000.

This compared with the average of 52% in Wales as a whole - a drop of eight per cent on the previous year.

Of 1,340 women seeking birth control at local clinics, a total of 525 women chose the contraceptive pill, while 599 women (45%) opted for condoms, 68 (5%) had IDU and 148 (11%) chose other methods.

Ninty-seven men also visited the clinic for condoms.

The highest percentage of women - 45% (599) - were aged between 20 and 34; 25% (331) were between 16 and 19 years; 25% (331) were over 35, and 6% (79) were under 16.

A total of 191 women sought emergency contraception, with the largest number being in the 20 to 34 years age range.