The association of attitudes about contraceptives with contraceptive use in a random sample of Colorado women

Context Research regarding unintended pregnancy often focuses on how women make decisions about whether or not to use contraceptives, and structural barriers to contraception. Less research examines how multidimensional attitudinal characteristics may be associated with effective contraceptive use. Methods In fall 2007, we conducted a random telephone survey of 801 sexually active women in Colorado to assess associations of the attitudinal dimensions of Planning, Partner Communication, and Stigma and Misinformation with contraceptive use. We also examine demographic differences on hypothesized predictors. Results Stigma and Misinformation is higher in Latina women, women on Medicaid or with no insurance, women with less than a college degree, and women living in small towns or rural areas. Partner Communication attitudes are most positive among those with a bachelor's degree, and those with less than a high school degree, while they are most negative among those living in small towns and rural areas. In multivariate analysis, planning to use contraceptives is associated with greater likelihood of more effective contraceptive use. Higher levels of planning and partner communication are associated with greater likelihood of any contraceptive use. Discussion In addition to addressing structural barriers to contraception, interventions to address the need to plan for contraception are vital to mitigate the high prevalence of unintended pregnancies in the United States

Recovery of fertility after use of the Levonorgestrel 20 mcg/d or copper T 380 Ag intrauterine device

Contraception343261-267CCPT

Continuation rates for oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy

Despite the safety and effectiveness of low oestrogen-dose oral contraceptives (OC) and postmenopausal hormone replacement there is poor continuity of use of these agents by women. Patterns of use and the reasons affecting different frequencies of use in different countries are presented. Continuity and discontinuation rates are difficult to assess accurately but it is believed that the main reasons why women discontinue use of these agents are concerns about their perceived health risks and the presence of, or fear of, adverse clinical effects, particularly unscheduled uterine bleeding and weight gain. More information is needed about OC continuation rates in order to improve the acceptability of these safe, effective agents. Most women discontinue use of postmenopausal hormonal replacement within 2 years of initiating the therapy. Reasons include disappearance of symptoms of oestrogen deficiency, lack of awareness of health benefits of oestrogen, presence of side-effects (such as breast tenderness and weight gain), presence of uterine bleeding and increasing age. Suggestions to increase continuation of OC include extensive individual pretreatment counselling with a different emphasis in different age groups, education at the time of follow-up visits and telephone calls, and extensive use of educational aids such as brochures, pamphlets and audio tapes, and improvement of pharmaceutical packaging information. In conclusion there is an urgent need to assess the value of these strategies by long-term large controlled studies

Prolonged effectiveness of Norplant® capsule implants: A 7-year study

10.1016/S0010-7824(00)00095-0Contraception613187-194CCPT

Contraception With Long-acting Subdermal Implants. A Five-year Clinical Trial With Silastic Covered Rod Implants Containing Levonorgestrel

A total of 189 women volunteered to accept subdermal implants for contraception. The implants were "covered rods", consisting of a core rod containing equal parts by weight of levonorgestrel and polydimethylsiloxane and sealed inside a thin-walled tube of Silastic tubing with medical adhesive. In one study 78 women used 4 3cm rods (study 07) and in the other 111 women used 6 3cm rods. In 5 years of use there were no pregnancies in either group. Terminations because of menstrual problems were twice as frequent among the 4-rod users than among users of the 6 rods. Menstrual pattern analysis is presented for the two rod regimens and compared with the previously reported patterns for the 6-capsule regimen (NORPLANTR). Long-term in vivo release rates are also presented. © 1985.314351359Contraception with long acting subdermal implants: I. An effective and acceptable modality in international clinical trials (1978) Contraception, 18, pp. 315-333. , IThe Development of NORPLANT Implants (1983) Studies in Family Planning, 14, pp. 159-193Diaz, Pavez, Miranda, Robertson, Sivin, Croxatto, A Five-Year Clinical Trial of Levonorgestrel Silastic Implants (NORPLANT™) (1982) Contraception, 25, pp. 447-456Nash, Robertson, Moo-Young, Atkinson, Steroid Release from Silastic Capsules and Rods (1978) Contraception, 18, pp. 367-394Faundes, Mejias, DeLeon, Robertson, Alvarez, First year clinical experience with six levonorgestrel rods as subdermal contraception (1979) Contraception, 20, pp. 167-175Roy, Stanczyk, Mishell, Lumkin, Gentzschein, Clinical and Endocrinological Study of Continuous Levonorgestrel Administration from Subcutaneous Solid Polydimethylsiloxane Rods (1980) Contraception, 21, pp. 595-615Weiner, Johansson, Contraception with d-Norgestrel Silastic Rods: Plasma Levels of d-Norgestrel and Influence on the Ovarian Function (1976) Contraception, 14, pp. 551-562Robertson, Sivin, Nash, Braun, Dinh, Release Rates of Levonorgestrel from SilasticR Capsules. Homogenous Rods and covered Rods in Humans (1983) Contraception, 27, pp. 483-495Jain, Sivin, Life-Table Analysis of IUDs. Problems and Recommendations (1977) Studies in Family Planning, 8 (2)Faundes, Sivin, Stern, Long -Acting Contraceptive Implants, An Analysis of Menstrual Bleeding Patterns (1978) Contraception, 18, pp. 355-36