Unbelievable Facts
A recent mini-study among Scottish women found that they are biased in their assessment of the best contraceptive methods due to false beliefs and fears. A survey of 55 women, the results of which were published in the Journal of Family Planning, showed that women are very concerned about possible weight gain as a result of prolonged hormonal use contraception.
The use of the spiral and similar devices was immediately rejected because women tried to avoid unnecessary examinations or invasive procedures. Many people chose pills, because their girlfriend, friend or colleague adheres to this method of contraception.
Both the Department of Health and Scottish authorities are actively advocating for long-lasting contraceptives because they are reliable and have few side effects. They also argue that contraceptives should be offered to every woman who comes to a consultation about the right method of protection for her.
However, the results show that this type of contraception is not very popular, with only one in 10 women using it in recent years. A study of 55 women, published in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health, was conducted by sexual health experts to try to find out why women have just this kind of bias against certain types of contraception.
As a result, they came to the conclusion that there are two main reasons why women are skeptical about contraceptives. The first is the fear of having trouble conceiving in the long run, the second is the fear of gaining significant weight in the short term.
“In the long run, you should be concerned about how this or that contraceptive method will affect the functioning of your internal organs,” said one young woman. Other women said that intrauterine devices such as spirals are generally out of discussion, as their installation requires medical intervention. “The mere thought of installing them terrifies me,” said one of the women.
Many study participants noted that they started taking pills simply because their friends used or are using the same pills, and they did not consult a doctor about the method contraception, or even about the type of pill that's right for her.
“We would like to state with full confidence that all contraceptive methods do not reduce a woman's fertility, and most of them also do not affect changes in weight.” “Doctors tend to focus on medical issues, while women are more concerned about their weight, skin condition and their ability to have children in the future,” says Professor Anna Glasier (Anna Glasier).
“Women are concerned about how contraception fits into their lives, not just how effective it is,” says Lynn Hearton, a family planning specialist. “Contraception is paramount in most women's lives, but there are a lot of myths and misconceptions about how it works and what side effects it has, so it is necessary that every woman be properly informed about everything related to protection in order to be able to make an informed choice,” she concluded.