Sexual repression has a long history in Ireland. It was illegal to be a gay in Ireland until 1993, and family planning did not begin until the late 1970s. Contraceptive imports and sales have been prohibited since 1935, but fortunately, contraceptives are now freely available. Irish women have some of the highest rates of contraceptive use in Europe. Birth control has been legal in Ireland since 1978. The Pill is by far the most popular form of contraception, with use increasing every year. About one in five Irish women uses some form of birth control, which is higher than any other country in Europe except for France. Although abortion is still controversial in Ireland, more than half of all pregnancies are planned, so most women want to avoid pregnancy. This means that contraception is very important for Irish women. In the 1960s and '70s, there was much debate about legalizing contraception because many people believed that this would reduce the number of abortions that were being done illegally. At first, only married couples could apply for a license, but in 1978, this rule was changed to include all consenting adults over 17 years old. Since then, licensing requirements have included medical examinations and advice about contraception every three years. The government agency that controls prescription drugs, Drugs Management Unit, reports that nearly two thirds of Irish women use some form of contraception. This is higher than any other country in Europe except for France.