Sarah R Hoffman1, Wanda K Nicholson2, Jennifer S Smith3, Michele Jonsson Funk3, Michael G Hudgens4, Charles Poole3, Donna D Baird5, Quaker E Harmon5. 1. Department of Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, United States. Electronic address: srhoffma@live.unc.edu. 2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; UNC Center for Women's Health Research, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Program on Women's Endocrine and Reproductive Health, UNC School of Medicine, United States; Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Chapel Hill, NC, United States. 3. Department of Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, United States. 4. Department of Biostatistics, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, United States. 5. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Durham, NC, United States.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To characterize reasons for hormonal contraceptive (HC) use in 1,455 African-American women, aged 23-35 years. STUDY DESIGN: The community-based cohort members were recruited from the Detroit, Michigan area in 2010-2012. HC history was collected via telephone interview. RESULTS: Seven percent reported HC use exclusively for non-contraceptive purposes, and 49% reported non-contraceptive reasons in addition to contraception. Non-contraceptive reasons were reported for all HC types, but were most common for combined oral contraceptives. Primary reasons were for irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, and pain. CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort of Black women, HC use to treat menstrual problems was common. IMPLICATIONS: HCs were commonly used for both pregnancy prevention and management of menstrual symptoms, but some women used HCs exclusively for menstrual symptom relief. The importance for women of non-contraceptive reasons for HC use may not be adequately recognized, and published data on Black women's reasons for HC use remain limited.
OBJECTIVES: To characterize reasons for hormonal contraceptive (HC) use in 1,455 African-American women, aged 23-35 years. STUDY DESIGN: The community-based cohort members were recruited from the Detroit, Michigan area in 2010-2012. HC history was collected via telephone interview. RESULTS: Seven percent reported HC use exclusively for non-contraceptive purposes, and 49% reported non-contraceptive reasons in addition to contraception. Non-contraceptive reasons were reported for all HC types, but were most common for combined oral contraceptives. Primary reasons were for irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, and pain. CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort of Black women, HC use to treat menstrual problems was common. IMPLICATIONS: HCs were commonly used for both pregnancy prevention and management of menstrual symptoms, but some women used HCs exclusively for menstrual symptom relief. The importance for women of non-contraceptive reasons for HC use may not be adequately recognized, and published data on Black women's reasons for HC use remain limited.
Authors: Donna D Baird; Quaker E Harmon; Kristen Upson; Kristen R Moore; Christie Barker-Cummings; Susan Baker; Tracy Cooper; Ganesa Wegienka Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2015-09-03 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Quaker E Harmon; Stacy A Patchel; Shanshan Zhao; David M Umbach; Tracy E Cooper; Donna D Baird Journal: Obstet Gynecol Date: 2022-04-05 Impact factor: 7.623