Britta Wigginton1, Melissa L Harris2, Deborah Loxton3, Jayne C Lucke4,5. 1. Research Assistant, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia. 2. Research Academic, Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia. 3. Deputy Director, Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia. 4. Director, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 5. Honorary Professor, University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Women commonly report changing contraceptive methods because of side-effects. However, there is a lack of literature that has thoroughly examined women's perspectives, including why they changed contraception. AIM: Using qualitative data from a contraceptive survey of young Australian women, we explored women's explanations for their recent changes in contraception. METHOD: A thematic analysis of 1051 responses to a question about why women recently changed contraception was conducted. RESULTS: Themes reflected reasons for changing contraception which included: both contraceptive and non-contraceptive (4%); relationship/sexual (9%); medical (11%); contraceptive (18%); non-contraceptive (41%). A minority of responses were uncoded (17%). Non-contraceptive effects (effects unrelated to pregnancy prevention) featured most frequently in women's reasons for changing contraception. CONCLUSIONS: While cessation of various contraceptives due to unwanted side-effects is a well-known phenomenon, this analysis provides evidence of the changing of contraception for its non-contraceptive effects and reframes the notion of 'side-effects'. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.
BACKGROUND:Women commonly report changing contraceptive methods because of side-effects. However, there is a lack of literature that has thoroughly examined women's perspectives, including why they changed contraception. AIM: Using qualitative data from a contraceptive survey of young Australian women, we explored women's explanations for their recent changes in contraception. METHOD: A thematic analysis of 1051 responses to a question about why women recently changed contraception was conducted. RESULTS: Themes reflected reasons for changing contraception which included: both contraceptive and non-contraceptive (4%); relationship/sexual (9%); medical (11%); contraceptive (18%); non-contraceptive (41%). A minority of responses were uncoded (17%). Non-contraceptive effects (effects unrelated to pregnancy prevention) featured most frequently in women's reasons for changing contraception. CONCLUSIONS: While cessation of various contraceptives due to unwanted side-effects is a well-known phenomenon, this analysis provides evidence of the changing of contraception for its non-contraceptive effects and reframes the notion of 'side-effects'. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.
Entities:
Keywords:
contraception; contraceptive changes; contraceptive discontinuation; qualitative analysis; side-effects; young women