More than 200 people have called a hot line set up to offer information and advice about unexpected pregnancies and other reproductive issues since it was set up last Friday, according to officials with the No. 411 Hospital of People's Liberation Army.

The hospital set up the hot line to offer guidance to girls and young women with reproductive problems.

"About half of the women undergoing abortion surgeries in our hospital are unmarried. Many of them are students who don't have a good understanding of reproduction and sex," said Ma Yan, a hospital official.

"Some girls, were so frightened that their parents or school officials would find out they are pregnant that they bought medicines by themselves or underwent abortions at illegal clinics. They are often sent here after suffering complications, such as hemorrhaging."

Doctors said many phone calls are from students and young women who have become sexually active without using any contraception.

"We will tell them to use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy. If they are already pregnant, we will advise them to go to the hospital for a checkup and get an abortion early in the pregnancy," Ma said.

"We have received many girls who are four or five months in pregnancy. Undergoing an abortion that late in a pregnancy can cause serious side effect."

Ma said abortions should generally be performed during the first 70 days of a pregnancy.

Doctors said the hot line not only promotes sex education and self-protection knowledge but also helps the girls adopt an appropriate attitude toward unwanted pregnancies.

(Shanghai Daily July 13, 2005)