Contraception use and attitudes: women’s concerns regarding hormonal contraception and copper intrauterine devices

Figures & data

Table 1. Background characteristics of study population n = 212.

Variable	n	Yes (Valid %)	Mean	Range (months)	SD
Age (years)	212		29.4	17–50	7.4
Born in Sweden (%)	211	188 (89.1)
In a stable relationship (%)	212	148 (69.8)
Duration of current stable relationship (months)			56.2	1–312	69.7
Heterosexual (%)	208	188 (90.4)
Having children (%)	198	51 (25.7)
Student (%)	212	54 (25.5)
Employed (%)	212	145 (68.4)
Daily smoker (%)	212	14 (6.6)
Daily snuff use (%)	212	12 (5.7)
Experience of abortion (%)	204	60 (29.4)
Ever had a STI (%)	205	59 (28.8)

Table 2. Contraception method use during most recent intercourse n = 207.

Contraception^a	Total	%
Long acting reversible contraception^b	63	30.4
Levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system	45	21.7
Copper intrauterine device	13	6.3
Implant	5	2.4
Short acting reversible contraception^c	58*	28.0
Combined oral contraceptive pills	51	24.6
Progestin only pill	5	2.4
Vaginal ring	2	1.0
Injection	1	0.5
Condom	37	17.9
No contraception	34	16.4
Coitus interruptus	22	10.6
Safe periods	3	1.4
Sterilization	2	1.0
Fertility monitor device	1	0.5

^aSome women used more than one method, thus percentage exceeds 100%.

^bThe three methods listed below combined.

^cThe four methods listed below combined.

*One woman stated use of both progestin only pills and combined oral contraception, wherefore the number is 58 women.

Table 3. Are you concerned about using hormonal contraception? N = 199.

	N	%
No	117	58.8
Yes	82	41.2
Reasons for being concerned^a n = 80
Side effects (not specified)	34	42.5
Fear of hormones	24	30.0
Mood changes	18	22.5
Depressed mood	15	18.8
Blood clots	7	8.8
Weight gain	6	7.5
Decreased fertility	4	5.0
Decreased libido	3	3.8
Hereditary factors	4	5.0
Not 100% protection	2	2.5
Acne	1	1.3
Additives in the contraception	1	1.3
Risk of hypertension	1	1.3
Increased risk of breast cancer	1	1.3

^aWomen could state more than one reason, thus percentage exceeds 100%.

Table 4. Reproductive health and background characteristics among women having or not having concerns.

Variable	N	Valid N	Not concerned n = 117 (58.8%) n (%)	Concerned n = 82 (41.2%) n (%)	p Value
Not using hormonal contraception	100	95 (47.7)	44 (37.6)	51 (62.2)	0.001
Using hormonal contraception	107	104 (52.3)	73 (62.4)	31 (37.8)
Age < 30 years	132	123 (61.8)	74 (63.2)	49 (59.8)	0.618
Age ≥ 30 years	80	76 (38.2)	43 (36.8)	33 (40.2)
Ever use of emergency contraception: No	71	68 (34.5)	46 (39.7)	22 (27.2)	0.070
Ever use of emergency contraception: Yes	131	129 (65.5)	70 (60.3)	59 (72.8)
Ever had an induced abortion: No	144	140 (70.4)	92 (78.6)	48 (58.5)	0.002
Ever had an induced abortion: Yes	60	59 (29.6)	25 (21.4)	34 (41.5)
Ever had a sexually transmitted disease: No	146	140 (70.7)	86 (73.5)	54 (66.7)	0.299
Ever had a sexually transmitted disease: Yes	59	58 (29.3)	31 (26.5)	27 (33.3)
Occupation: student	54	51 (25.6)	27 (23.1)	24 (29.3)	0.538^a
Occupation: employed	145	138 (69.3)	83 (70.9)	55 (67.1)
Occupation: other^b	13	10 (5.0)	7 (6.0)	3 (3.7)
Daily smoker: No	198	186 (93.5)	109 (93.2)	77 (93.9)	0.835
Daily smoker: Yes	14	13 (6.5)	8 (6.8)	5 (6.1)
Daily snuff use: No	200	188 (94.5)	112 (95.7)	76 (92.7)	0.366^a
Daily snuff use: Yes	12	11 (5.5)	5 (4.3)	6 (7.3)

% = n/Valid N.

^aCalculated with Fisher’s Exact test.

^bUnemployed, maternity leave or sick leave.

Table 5. Use of contraception method during most recent intercourse among women having or not having concerns.

Type of contraception^a	Not concerned (n = 117) N (%)	Concerned (n = 82) N (%)	p Value
Long acting reversible contraception^b	36 (30.8)	26 (31.7)	0.888
Levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system	28 (23.9)	16 (19.5)	0.460
Copper intrauterine device	5 (4.3)	8 (9.8)	0.123
Implant	3 (2.6)	2 (2.4)	1.000^c
Short acting reversible contraception^d	43 (36.8)	13 (15.9)	0.001
Combined oral contraceptive pills	38 (32.5)	11 (13.4)	0.002
Progestin only pill	4 (3.4)	1 (1.2)	0.651^c
Vaginal ring	1 (0.9)	1 (1.2)	1.000^c
Injection	1 (0.9)	0	1.000^c
Condom	21 (17.9)	16 (19.5)	0.780
No contraception	13 (11.1)	17 (20.7)	0.062
Coitus interruptus	9 (7.7)	12 (14.6)	0.117
Safe periods	1 (0.9)	2 (2.4)	0.570^c
Sterilization	1 (0.9)	1 (1.2)	1.000^c
Fertility monitor	1 (0.9)	0	1.000^c

^aSome women used more than one method, thus percentage exceeds 100%.

^bThe three methods listed below combined.

^cCalculated with Fisher’s exact test. As there are very few cases in each column, results need to be interpreted cautiously.

^dThe four methods listed below combined. As one woman stated use of both progestin only pills and combined oral contraceptive pills, the total number of users is 43.

Table 6. Are you concerned about using a copper intrauterine device? N = 199 .

	N	%
No	95	47.7
Yes	104	52.3
Reasons for being concerned^a n = 91
Increased bleeding	41	45.1
Increased menstrual pain	29	31.9
Painful insertion	17	18.7
Side effects (unspecified)	11	12.1
Lack of knowledge	11	12.1
Heard negative stories	9	9.9
Dislocation	5	5.5
Decreased fertility	3	3.3

^aWomen could state more than one reason, thus percentage exceeds 100%.