Women’s attitudes about combined hormonal contraception (CHC) - induced menstrual bleeding changes - influence of personality traits in an Italian clinical sample

Abstract

Objectives

We investigated the attitudes to change the frequency of menstrual bleeding by using combined hormonal contraception (CHC). Personality characteristics were also explored.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in two university hospitals in northern Italy. Current, past and never CHC users (n = 545; age 18–44 years) completed a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire and the Ten-Item Personality Inventory (TIPI).

Results

Forty-five percent of responders (n = 301) would prefer to change their bleeding frequency by using CHC. A flexible regimen was the preferred choice (n = 80; 33%) followed by extended regimens to bleed every 3 months (n = 54; 22%) or to never bleed (n = 43; 18%). The main positive reasons were to avoid dysmenorrhea (43%) and have more freedom in sexual (36%) and active (35%) life, whereas the main reason for a negative attitude was ‘menstrual rhythm is natural’ (59%). Age had a significant influence on women’s willingness to change menstrual frequency by using CHC [>39 years (57%), 30–39 years (31%) and <30 years (46%)] (χ²: 9.1; p = 0.01). Never users significantly reported a more negative attitude (71%) in comparison with past (51%) and current users (49%) (χ²: 18.7; p = 0.001). Personality traits played a role, with higher scores of openness (p = 0.005) and extraversion (p = 0.001) in women with a positive attitude.

Conclusions

Almost half of our study sample reported a preference for changing their menstrual pattern by using CHC. Flexibility was the preferred choice across age and use of CHC. Personality characteristics (openness and extroversion) might influence attitudes toward CHC-induced menstrual bleeding changes.

Keywords:

• Attitudes
• bleeding pattern
• tailored contraceptive regimen
• personality
• combined hormonal contraceptive

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Bayer Pharma – Italy for an unrestricted University Grant in order to support this project.

Disclosure statement

Prof Rossella E. Nappi had past financial relationships (lecturer, member of advisory boards and/or consultant) with Boehringer Ingelheim, Ely Lilly, Endoceutics, Merck Sharpe & Dohme, Palatin Technologies, Pfizer Inc, Procter & Gamble Co, TEVA Women’s Health Inc and Zambon SpA. At present, she has ongoing relationship with Astellas, Bayer HealthCare AG, Exceltis, Fidia, Gedeon Richter, HRA Pharma, Novo Nordisk, Organon & Co, Shionogi Limited and Theramex, outside the submitted manuscript. Other authors reports no conflicts of interest in this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.