Sexual Health News
Contraception myths shown in recent survey
Women do not end up with the best form of contraception for themselves due to false beliefs and fears, a snapshot of Scottish women suggests.
A study of 55 women, published in the Journal of Family Planning & Reproductive Health Care, was carried out by sexual health specialists in Scotland to try and find out why women felt this way. The poll of 55 women found that anxiety about gaining weight deterred many of them from long-acting hormonal contraception. Implants and the coil were rejected as women didn’t want invasive examinations. The Pill was chosen by many women simply because their peers had done so.
The Department of Health and Scottish authorities are actively promoting long acting contraceptives as they are reliable and have few side effects. Guidelines say that all women should be offered long acting contraceptives when enquiring about contraception with their GP. However, research suggests they are unpopular, with only 1 in 10 women reporting to have used them in the past year. Two of the biggest things that put women off particular types of contraception were unfounded fears that they would harm their long term fertility and also put on weight. Specialists said that while women’s fears of medical examinations or implants might not be easily overcome, the survey suggested that using the term ‘long term’ when promoting some forms of contraception, may be creating false fear.
Professor Anna Glasier from Sexual Health NHS Lothian, said: "We are shooting ourselves in the foot by saying they are long-acting and we need to emphasise that they don't impair fertility and the majority of them don't affect weight. "Doctors tend to focus on medical problems, whereas women are actually more worried about their weight, skin and chances of being able to have children in the future." Lynn Hearton of the Family Planning Association said: "Women do worry about things like their fertility and gaining weight. They are concerned about how contraception fits into the whole of their lives, and not just its effectiveness. Contraception is of paramount importance to many women of all ages, but there are many myths and misconceptions circulating about how methods work and what the side effects are. It is imperative that every woman has the information, time and support to consider all these issues and make her own informed choice."
Dana Eyre (source BBC.Co.UK)