Long-acting, reversible and permanent methods of contraception: insight into women’s choice of method.

Kane, Roslyn; Irving, Gwen; Brown, Sally; Parkes, Neal; Walling, Martin; Killick, Stephen

Authors

Roslyn Kane

Gwen Irving

Sally Brown

Neal Parkes

Martin Walling

Stephen Killick

Abstract

Background This study aims to explore the views of women concerning their choice of long-acting method of contraception.
Method: two-hundred and eighty-six women who had either been sterilised or fitted with an etonorgestrel
(ETN) implant or the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG IUS) were invited to take part. A response rate of 54% was achieved. Women from all three groups reported positive and negative experiences with their chosen method.
Results: women frequently choose sterilisation
specifically because it is irreversible, does not involve
hormonal treatment, and they do not wish to retain choice of future fertility. Women incorrectly regard sterilisation as more reliable than any reversible method. Regret after sterilisation was common, even if this was preceded by full counselling. Even among patients of practices with a special interest in family planning, long-acting methods, although available, were not widely known about.
Conclusion: this study suggests that women chose
sterilisation for one of three main reasons: to avoid the possible side-effects of hormones; to avoid continually
having to make decisions regarding childbearing; and/or a lack of information regarding reversible methods. Sterilisation is often chosen by women specifically because of its irreversibility. This may explain why long-acting reversible methods have remained relatively unpopular.

Citation

Kane, R., Irving, G., Brown, S., Parkes, N., Walling, M., & Killick, S. (2009). Long-acting, reversible and permanent methods of contraception: insight into women’s choice of method. Quality in Primary Care, 17, 107-114

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Jan 29, 2009
Publication Date	Apr 1, 2009
Deposit Date	May 3, 2016
Print ISSN	1479-1072
Electronic ISSN	1479-1064
Publisher	Radcliffe Medical Press
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	17
Pages	107-114
Keywords	Contraception; long-acting reversible (LARC) methods; sterilisation;
Public URL	http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/9911