THE CONTRACEPTIVE CONFIDENCE AND CONSEQUENCES SURVEY A new international survey investigating user confidence in contraception reveals that missed pills significantly impact women’s confidence in the Pill. Overall, women’s contraceptive confidence correlated strikingly with the contraceptive action required, thus highlighting the difficulties that couples face in using methods – particularly daily or intercourse-related methods - correctly. Confi- dence was highest for the contraceptive ring and intrauterine device (IUD). The results have emerged in an international survey of over 8500 women and men - the Contraceptive Confidence and Consequences Survey - conducted earlier this year by TNS-NIPO. The survey also investigated the consequences of contraceptive misuse on the lives of both women and men. The survey was commissioned by Organon, developer of the first once-a-month contraceptive ring. PART I % of current Pill users % of current Pill users who EVER felt relief who ALWAYS OR OFTEN when their period felt relief when their started period started Total 53 14 Switzerland 65 19 Austria 63 10 Sweden 61 18 Belgium 60 16 Finland 58 8 The Netherlands 55 6 Germany 54 13 Italy 53 22 France 53 17 Denmark 50 7 Hungary 45 14 Spain 39 12 Russia 37 23 Ukraine 27 15 Base: all women who have used the Pill in the last five years % of women who ever felt relieved when their period started Withdrawal 83 Rhythm 81 Condom 57 Pill 53 Patch 39 Ring 29 Copper IUD 28 Base: Women who used this method in the past five years CONTRACEPTIVE CONFIDENCE • Findings reveal a striking correlation between women’s confidence in a method - in terms of whether she ever felt relief at starting her period - and the contraceptive action required on her/her partner’s part. • Confidence was a particular issue among women relying on with- drawal or rhythm. However, more than half of pill and condom users ever expressed relief at starting their period. • The methods that appeared to engender the most confidence were the once-a-month contraceptive ring and the IUD. • One in seven (14%) pill users always or frequently felt re- lief at the start of her period. This compares with nearly half (48%) of women using with- drawal and one in five (19%) of those relying on the condom. • Confidence in the Pill also var- ied notably by country. Around one in five Russian, Italian, Swiss, and Swedish pill us- ers were always or frequently relieved to start their period, whereas a much smaller per- centage of Finnish, Danish and Dutch women felt this way. • The underlying reasons given by women for feeling relief at the start of their period varied depending on the method: • Pill users were most likely to blame incorrect use or decreased reliability due to circumstances for their relief. Lack of trust per se was less likely to be mentioned indicating that the concern pre- dominantly lies with the use of the method in their own hands. • Rhythm and withdrawal are for the most part simply not trusted – 67% and 55% of women respectively gave this reason for their relief. Lack of trust was also the commonest reason for feeling relief given by condom and patch users. • Women using the IUD or contraceptive ring were most likely to say it’s my natural reaction when asked why they felt relieved at starting their period. Based on an international survey of 8531 heterosexual women and men between 16 and 40 years in 14 countries and conducted during March/April 2005. The online survey was conducted by TNS-NIPO [www.tns-nipo.com] on behalf of Organon [www.organon.com]. MISSED PILLS THE RATIONALE FOR THE SURVEY • The European Women on Contraception Survey showed that more than two-thirds of Pill users regularly miss pills, and over one in five users miss at least one pill every month. The survey carried out in November 2003 by TNS NIPO questioned over 2250 women aged 18 to 40 years from The Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Spain about contraception. • In light of these findings, the Contraceptive Confidence and Consequences Survey was set up to examine the motivations for use of contraception, confidence in methods used and assess knowledge and experience of factors that impact reliability as well as the consequences of pregnancy scares among women and men.
Transcript
THE CONTRACEPTIVE CONFIDENCE AND CONSEQUENCES SURVEY
A new international survey investigating user confidence in contraception reveals that missed pills significantly impact women’s confidence in the Pill. Overall, women’s contraceptive confidence correlated strikingly with the contraceptive action required, thus highlighting the difficulties that couples face in using methods – particularly daily or intercourse-related methods - correctly. Confi-dence was highest for the contraceptive ring and intrauterine device (IUD).
The results have emerged in an international survey of over 8500 women and men - the Contraceptive Confidence and Consequences Survey - conducted earlier this year by TNS-NIPO. The survey also investigated the consequences of contraceptive misuse on the lives of both women and men. The survey was commissioned by Organon, developer of the first once-a-month contraceptive ring.
PART I
% of current Pill users % of current Pill users who EVER felt relief who ALWAYS OR OFTEN
when their period felt relief when their started period started
Base: Women who used this method in the past five years
CONTRACEPTIVE CONFIDENCE
• Findings reveal a striking correlation between women’s confidence in a method - in terms of whether she ever felt relief at starting her period - and the contraceptive action required on her/her partner’s part.
• Confidence was a particular issue among women relying on with-drawal or rhythm. However, more than half of pill and condom users ever expressed relief at starting their period.
• The methods that appeared to engender the most confidence were the once-a-month contraceptive ring and the IUD.
• One in seven (14%) pill users always or frequently felt re-lief at the start of her period. This compares with nearly half (48%) of women using with-drawal and one in five (19%) of those relying on the condom.
• Confidence in the Pill also var-ied notably by country. Around one in five Russian, Italian, Swiss, and Swedish pill us-ers were always or frequently relieved to start their period, whereas a much smaller per-centage of Finnish, Danish and Dutch women felt this way.
• The underlying reasons given by women for feeling relief at the start of their period varied depending on the method:
• Pill users were most likely to blame incorrect use or decreased reliability due to circumstances for their relief. Lack of trust per se was less likely to be mentioned indicating that the concern pre-dominantly lies with the use of the method in their own hands.
• Rhythm and withdrawal are for the most part simply not trusted – 67% and 55% of women respectively gave this reason for their relief. Lack of trust was also the commonest reason for feeling relief given by condom and patch users.
• Women using the IUD or contraceptive ring were most likely to say it’s my natural reaction when asked why they felt relieved at starting their period.
Based on an international survey of 8531 heterosexual women and men between 16 and 40 years in 14 countries and conducted during March/April 2005. The online survey was conducted by TNS-NIPO [www.tns-nipo.com] on behalf of Organon [www.organon.com].
MISSED PILLSTHE RATIONALE FOR THE SURVEY
• The European Women on Contraception Survey showed that more than two-thirds of Pill users regularly miss pills, and over one in five users miss at least one pill every month. The survey carried out in November 2003 by TNS NIPO questioned over 2250 women aged 18 to 40 years from The Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and Spain about contraception.
• In light of these findings, the Contraceptive Confidence and Consequences Survey was set up to examine the motivations for use of contraception, confidence in methods used and assess knowledge and experience of factors that impact reliability as well as the consequences of pregnancy scares among women and men.
MOTIVATIONS FOR CHOOSING A CONTRACEPTIVE METHOD
• Above all, the Pill is chosen for its reliability (cited as one of the top three reasons for starting it by 71% of women). Other in-fluential factors include its lack of disturbance during love-mak-ing (39%) and cycle regulation (37%). Younger women are less likely to regard the Pill as user friendly.
• The top three reasons for women choosing the male condom are protection against STDs (61%), reliability (54%) and because it is only needed during sexual intercourse (39%).
• Methods such as the contraceptive implant, injection, and the copper IUD are primarily chosen because of their convenience – women cited reasons such as doesn’t have to be remembered everyday and long-term contraception.
• The overwhelming reason for choosing the contraceptive ring was because of its once-a-month action - not having to remem-ber it every day (60%); as well as its reliability (43%) and its user friendliness (28%). One quarter of women also mentioned the ring’s low hormone dose, and nearly one in five that it is administered by the woman herself.
• Women using the patch did not come up with as many reasons for its use compared to those using other methods but the top three reasons given by women were because it is user friendly (40%); reliable (17%) and does not interfere with love making (15%).
• Reliability is rarely ever given as a reason for adopting the with-drawal method. The motivations for use are lack of side effects, it is perceived as user friendly and the absence of hormones. Women using the rhythm method gave similar reasons.
• Overall, 82% of men expressed satisfaction with methods that were used by the woman with no significant differences between methods. However, men were significantly less satisfied with the condom and withdrawal: only 57% and 44% of men expressed satisfaction respectively. This is consistent with their desire for methods that do not disturb love-making (see below).
Top five most important features of the ideal contraceptive:
Women Men
Reliability 50% 47% No side effects 38% 23%Easy to use 31% 25%Once-a-month/non-daily 18% * No disturbance during love-making 16% 28%STD protection * 11%
Base: All * Not mentioned in top 5
WHO’S IN CHARGE?
• One in four women (24%) regard the choice of contraception as be-ing mainly the individual decision of the woman compared to only 6% of men. While 88% of men and 72% of women regard it as a mutual decision.
• Men regard themselves as more influential than their partner’s doc-tor, her friends and her mother. Previous research indicates that in fact a woman’s doctor and girlfriends have greater influence on the contraceptive-decision making process than their partner. [Organon, data on file, 2004]
CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE TODAY
Top 3 current methods of contraception:
Women
Pill 37 %Male condom 36%Withdrawal 13%
Base: All
Men
Condom 49 % Pill 34% Withdrawal 15% Base: All
… WHAT ABOUT MEN?
• Men also have some concerns about correct use of the Pill. Over half (51%) of the partners of pill users say they worry their partner may forget it. Men without children and those aged between 20 and 34 years worry the most. And, overall 54% of men remind their partner to take the Pill.
• Spanish, French and German men were particularly likely to worry about pill use and Danish, Swedish and Dutch men less likely to worry.
• 82% of women have ever used/relied on the male condom, 77% on the Pill and 39% on withdrawal. Currently, women were most commonly using the Pill, the male condom and withdrawal. In terms of newly introduced methods, 2% of women were using the once-a-month contraceptive ring.
• 86% of men have ever used/ relied on the male condom; 65% on the Pill (used by their female partner) and 36% with-drawal.
% men worrying their % men who remind their partner to take partner may forget the Pill the Pill
Base: All men who have experience with the Pill in the last five years
RELIABILITYTOP OF THE CONTRACEPTIVE AGENDA
• Reliability is the most commonly cited feature of the ideal contraceptive given by women and men. Thereafter, priorities changed with no disturbance on love-making of greater im-portance to men, and no side effects for women.
• Reliability is particularly important for younger women. Wom-en aged 20-34 years are particularly likely to want methods that have no side effects and cannot be forgotten.
