How does the impact of contraceptive methods on sexual life
quality influence women’s choices and usage of them
A. Akyuz, A. Kilic, A.
Ustunsoz, H. Vural
Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey
This research
is a qualitative study, which was performed to determine the influence on
women’s choices and usage of contraceptive methods by considering their impact
on sexual life.
Method This research was performed between 1-30 December 2005.
During this period, totally 23 women have applied to the Family Planning service
but 10 out of them who have used a method for at least one year permanently were
eligible to be involved in this study. The data were evaluated through content
analysis.
The findings are grouped in four main category as; women’s
contraceptive choices and using these methods; effects of the methods on sexual
life; husband involvement in decision for the method; their priorities and
partners’ priorities according to them.
Results The average age of the women
who have participated this research is 32.8±9.2. In the time duration, half of
the participants were using IUD, 3 of them were using coitus interraptus, one of
them was using oral contraceptive and one of them was using preservative (condom)
as the contraceptive method. All the participants have used different methods in
the past.
Half of the participants started to use their current method by
consulting to a doctor, 3 of them started by deciding with their partners and 2
of them started upon the request of their partner. Nine of the participants
didn’t consider the impact of the contraceptive method on their sexual life
while choosing the method.
When the impact of contraceptive method on the sexual
life is investigated, the following results were obtained. About all the women
who used IUD method stated they had difficulty in their sexual life because of
the increase in menstrual bleeding time and leakage (discharge). All three women
who used coitus interraptus method declared that their sexual life is affected
because they always had a fear of being pregnant. 4 women who used oral
contraceptive method stated that they were nervous during sexual relation
because this method has decreased their sexual desire or make them feel
quick-tempered. The first reason to select a method for a woman is its effect of
preventing pregnancy; the second reason is the side effects. When it is asked to
arrange the methods according to their partner’s decision, primary cause is its
effect on sexuality and the second is avoiding pregnancy.
Conclusion It would
be helpful to increase the awareness of the healthcare personnel about the
effect of contraceptive methods on sexual life. t was evaluated that,
emphasizing the AP methods on sexual relations while educating the families
would increase the selection and usage of the methods.