The influence of vaginal bleeding on the sexual behavior of urban, Hispanic women and men.

Irregular menstrual bleeding associated with use of hormonal contraceptives is a leading cause of contraception discontinuation. If bleeding disrupts sexual activity, this could contribute to contraceptive discontinuation. The impact of bleeding on sexual activities other than intercourse is unknown.A self-administered questionnaire in Spanish or English was used to collect information on demographics and the practice of various sexual behaviors during times of vaginal bleeding or spotting. The questionnaire was offered consecutively to 86 men and 75 women attending urban family-planning and young men's clinics. The men and women were approached individually, not as couples. Women reported a mean age of 25 years, a wide range of educational attainment, described themselves as mostly Hispanic (89%), and most chose the Spanish version of the questionnaire (67%). Men also described themselves as mostly Hispanic (80%), and reported a similar range of educational attainment, but were younger (mean age of 21, p < 0.001), and were less likely to choose the Spanish version of the questionnaire (23%, p < 0.001).Kissing, breast touching, and receiving non-genital touching did not change during bleeding or spotting. Forty-five percent of women reported usually receiving genital touching, which declined to 6% during bleeding and to 10% during spotting (p < 0.001). Similar proportions of women reported usually giving genital touching to their partner (50%) during bleeding (41%) or spotting (44%). Men also reported usually giving less genital touching to their partner, but no change in receiving genital touching during bleeding or spotting. Forty percent of women reported usually receiving oral sex, which declined to 4% during spotting or to 0% bleeding (p < 0.001). Forty-two percent of women reported usually giving oral sex, which declined to 23% during bleeding and to 35% during spotting (p = 0.06). Fifty percent of women and 68% of men reported engaging in vaginal intercourse. Among women, reported intercourse declined to 7% during bleeding and to 26% during spotting (p < 0.001). Among men, reported intercourse declined to 19% during bleeding and to 23% during spotting (p < 0.001). The presence of vaginal bleeding or spotting is associated with decreases in genital sexual behaviors among urban, Hispanic women and men. Such disruptions in sexual behavior could contribute to contraceptive discontinuation.