Survey on the awareness of the non-contraceptive benefits of contraceptive methods in women

Posted May 16, 2023

A survey conducted by the team of the INCT Hormona Center at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) assessed the awareness of the non-contraceptive benefits of some types of contraceptives among Brazilian women. The article “Awareness of the non-contraceptive benefits of reversible contraceptive methods in a cohort of Brazilian women: an exploratory study” can be read in full at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35377262/

According to the INCT Hormona research center coordinator and steering committee member, Dr. Luis Bahamondes, the group used a questionnaire administered via Google Forms asking women about their awareness of the non-contraceptive benefits of combined oral contraceptives (COCs), depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), 52 mg levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), etonogestrel (ENG), copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD), and male condom.

A total of 2068 questionnaires were completed, of which 34.8% were from women aged ≤ 29 years and 11.4% from physicians or nurses. The results showed that only one-third of the respondents were aware that COC use is associated with a decreased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer, and 16.1% that DMPA use is associated with a decreased risk of endometrial cancer; 13.8% were aware that Cu-IUD users have a decreased risk of cervical cancer.

For Dr. Luis Bahamondes, significant differences were identified between non-health care providers and physicians or nurses. “We noticed that Brazilian women, even among physicians and nurses, have only a slight awareness of the non-contraceptive benefits of contraceptives.” According to the expert, there is a need for investment in the dissemination of information not only for patients but also for physicians and nurses during their training.