Many women lack the awareness about the correct usage of certain types of contraception, according to new research.
Sex on Female First
In honour of World Contraception Day today, Dr Diana Mansour, Consultant in Community Gynaecology and Reproductive Health Care and Head of Sexual Health Services, Newcastle Hospitals Community Health, comments on some of the contraception myths highlighted by MSD in the I Plan On... survey findings, whilst also sharing answers to some common questions about contraception that she comes across on a day to day basis.
Myth: 1 in 2 women believe that all types of contraception require you to do something regularly to be effective.
Fact: “Some long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) such as the implant or intrauterine contraceptives do not require regular administration in order to be effective.”
Myth: Almost 1 in 5 women don’t realise they can get pregnant if they miss a pill
Fact: “Missing a pill can significantly impact the risk of becoming pregnant particularly if you have unprotected sex around the time of the hormone free interval. If you do miss a pill, follow the instructions on your packet of pills.”
Myth: Around 1 in 4 women believe that long acting reversible contraception (LARCs) are permanent and irreversible contraception solutions.
Fact: “Long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are not permanent forms of contraception and are reversible. For example once an implant, intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine system (IUS) is removed, there is no evidence to suggest a delay in the woman’s fertility return.”
Myth: Nearly 1 in 5 women believe that all contraception requires a monthly visit to their Healthcare professional (HCP).
Fact: “That’s not the case – for example following the fitting of an intrauterine contraceptive, women should return to their healthcare professional for a check at about 6 weeks and then they don’t need to make another appointment until it needs changing.”
Myth: More than half of women think that long term contraceptives should not be used if you may suddenly decide you want to try to have a baby.
Fact: “Long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) are not permanent forms of contraception and are reversible. There is no evidence of delay in return of fertility when an implant, intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine system (IUS) is removed. There could be a delay of up to one year in the return of fertility after a woman stops having the contraceptive injection.”
Myth: Almost a third of women think that contraceptive pills have the highest rate of efficacy when compared to other methods.
Fact: “This is not true. The most effective methods of contraception, based on “typical-use” are the contraceptive implant, intrauterine contraceptives and male and female sterilisation with less than 1 woman in 100 becoming pregnant using these methods. “Typical-use" refers to how effective a contraceptive method is for the average person who does not always use the method correctly or consistently. For example, women who use oral contraceptives perfectly will experience almost complete protection against pregnancy.
However, in the real world, some women may forget to take a pill every single day, and pregnancies can and do occur to women who miss one or more pills during a cycle. So, while oral contraceptives have a perfect-use effectiveness rate of over 99%, their typical-use effectiveness is closer to 91%.
Myth: Nearly 1 in 5 women think that long term methods all need surgical insertion into the uterus.
Fact: “The intrauterine system (IUS) and intrauterine device (IUD) are inserted into the uterus. Injectable contraceptives are however given by injection either into the large muscle in the bottom or in the upper arm and the contraceptive implant is fitted just under the skin on the inside of the upper arm.”
More information about each of the contraceptive choices can be found on MSD’s Talk Choice website www.talkchoice.co.uk
Femalefirst Taryn Davies
tagged in Sexual Health