( CNN ) -- Despite access to free contraceptives , unplanned pregnancies are a rising problem for women in the U.S. military , according to a new study . Nearly 11 % of more than 7,000 active-duty women surveyed by the Department of Defense in 2008 reported an unplanned pregnancy during the previous year . That 's 50 % higher than the average rate in the United States , the study authors say . The study , publishing next month in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology , also notes that the rate has increased since 2005 . Authors Dr. Daniel Grossman and Kate Grindlay analyzed data from the 2005 and 2008 Department of Defense Survey of Health Related Behaviors , which they obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request . `` It 's alarming , '' Grossman said of the increasing rate . `` When you 're in the military , that 's actually one time where you have access to free , good quality health care . ... It really highlights the need to better address contraceptive care . '' The military offers FDA-approved contraceptives , including emergency contraception , at no cost in its medical facilities , according to Shoshona Pilip-Florea , spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery . `` It 's important to note that contrary to the study , Navy Medicine has consistently found that the number of unintended pregnancies among female sailors and Marines is comparable to the national rates in the general population , '' Pilip-Florea wrote in an e-mail . Military to open combat jobs to women . The consequences . Unplanned pregnancies can have a significant impact on the health of military personnel and on troop readiness , according to the study . Servicewomen who become pregnant unexpectedly while at home can not be deployed , which may affect their career . Servicewomen who become pregnant while overseas must be sent home , which can cost the military around $ 10,000 . Research has shown approximately 43 % of unplanned pregnancies in the United States end in abortion . `` For women in the military , that can represent a huge challenge , '' Grossman said . Federal law allows abortion to be covered at military facilities only when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest , or threatens the life of the woman . And going off-base for medical care in places like Afghanistan or Iraq can be extremely dangerous , Grossman said . Readers skirmish over women in battle . Behind the numbers . Sexual assault could be playing a role in the military 's high number of unplanned pregnancies , the study authors noted . Research shows an estimated 20 % to 40 % of servicewomen experience rape or attempted rape during their military career . ( Exact numbers are difficult to obtain ; the Department of Defense estimates more than 80 % of incidents are never reported . ) A lack of sexual education and fears about repercussions could also be contributing factors , the authors said . In 2012 , Grossman and Grindlay published results from a small online survey about the use of contraception in the military . Close to 60 % of the 281 servicewomen surveyed said that contraception was easy or somewhat easy to obtain . The most common reason women cited for not using birth control while deployed was not planning to have sex . More than half of the respondents said they did not speak to a military medical provider about birth-control options before deploying . Some felt policies prohibiting or discouraging sex during deployment prevented them and/or their doctors from initiating a conversation about contraception , the study authors said . Not being able to access their preferred method of birth control was also cited as a reason for not using contraception . Vaginal rings often can not be used due to refrigeration needs and refills of patches or pills may be delayed due to transportation issues . Like many Americans , military personnel most frequently choose the pill and condoms for contraception , Pilip-Florea said . `` These methods are much more failure-prone than long-acting reversible contraceptives ( LARC ) such as intrauterine devices and hormonal implants , '' she said . `` Increasing the acceptance and usage of LARCs may decrease the unplanned pregnancy rate . '' Moving forward . Some branches of the military have already begun to address these issues . The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center created the Sexual Health and Responsibility Program ( SHARP ) in 1999 to help reduce the occurrence of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies . `` Policies and programs , like SHARP , have been put in place to help minimize these barriers , '' Pilip-Florea said . `` As a result , we believe those mentioned by Dr. Grossman may exist in isolated cases but do not represent a systemic problem . '' In 2012 , the Navy issued a policy requiring all females to be offered contraception services immediately after receiving orders to make sure they have time to find a contraception method before being deployed , Pilip-Florea said . Navy medical facilities also have a film on the different kinds of contraceptives ; the facilities will soon receive another film on the consequences of unplanned pregnancies . The Navy also plans to add a `` multi-hour , facilitated classroom lecture on family planning '' to their mandatory training after boot camp , according to Pilip-Florea . Grossman acknowledged these efforts , but said more needs to be done across all branches to provide education and access to contraception for servicewomen . `` These findings highlight an important public health problem within the military that has not been adequately addressed , '' the study authors wrote .
In 2007 , there were 105 unintended births for every 100 servicewomen , study says . The military offers free FDA - approved drugs in its medical facilities . Unplanned pregnancies can have a significant impact on morale , and readiness . Navy Medicine says its statistics are in line with the national average .