HOME > HBNS > TEEN SEXUALITY/PREGNANCY/CONTRACEPTION
Condom Use Drops When Young Women Use Hormonal Contraceptives
Release Date: October 9, 2012 |
KEY POINTS
- Young women who start using hormonal contraceptives often do not use condoms as a backup, which exposes them to risks of sexually transmitted diseases (STIs).
- Young women who start using hormonal birth control but later stop, often do not resume using condoms, which exposes them to risks of unintended pregnancy and STIs.
- Promoting longer-acting contraceptives such as implants and IUDs and providing counseling about condom use may be more effective at reducing unintended pregnancy and STIs than offering hormonal contraceptives alone.
Young women who start using hormonal contraceptives for birth control often stop using condoms, but a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health finds that if they later discontinue using hormonal contraceptives, they tend not to resume using condoms. This leaves them open to both unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The prospective year-long study included 1,194 sexually active women aged 15 to 24 visiting Planned Parenthood clinics and who were starting on contraceptive pills, patches, injections, or vaginal rings and not planning a pregnancy within the year. The researchers collected data on the young women’s beliefs toward condom use and their knowledge of their partners’ beliefs toward condoms.
At the beginning of the study, 36 percent of the young women used condoms consistently. Condom use dropped to 27 percent by 3 months later. Over the year, some women discontinued using hormonal contraception. More than half did not resume using condoms after they stopped using other contraception, according to Rachel Goldstein, M.D., of Stanford University School of Medicine and lead author of the study.
Using condoms together with other contraception (dual method use) decreases both the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The single largest predictor of using condoms and other contraception is the attitude of the woman's partner toward condoms, Goldstein noted. Women who said their partner thought condoms were “very important” or did not know how their partners felt about condom use were more likely to be dual method users than women who said their partner thought condoms were “not at all important”.
“It appears that her partner’s feelings may be more important than her perceived risk of a sexually transmitted infection or her own beliefs about dual method use," said Goldstein. This finding underscores the fact that a woman's decisions about contraception and preventing STIs may depend on factors over which she has little control. “Although a woman feels like she is at risk for an STI, she may not be able to advocate for herself and successfully negotiate condom use with her partner," Goldstein explained. Because a lapse in hormonal contraceptives may lead to unintended pregnancy, it may be better practice to advise young women to use longer-acting reversible contraceptives, such as implants or IUDs, and about the importance of condoms in preventing STIs, she recommended.
The study did not look at the use of hormonal implants or IUDs, also noted Mark Nichols, M.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. IUDS, which protect against pregnancy for several years, are an increasingly popular and highly recommended choice for women who are starting contraception now. Furthermore, although the study concluded that more counseling was needed, it did not describe the kind of counseling the women received either when they started hormonal contraception or at later clinic visits, he added.
TERMS OF USE: This story is protected by copyright. When reproducing any material, including interview excerpts, attribution to the Health Behavior News Service, part of the Center for Advancing Health, is required. While the information provided in this news story is from the latest peer-reviewed research, it is not intended to provide medical advice or treatment recommendations. For medical questions or concerns, please consult a health care provider.
###
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please reach the Health Behavior News Service, part of the Center for Advancing Health, at (202) 387-2829 or hbns-editor@cfah.org
Journal of Adolescent Health: Contact Tor Berg at (415) 502-1373 or tor.berg@ucsf.edu or visit www.jahonline.org
Goldstein RL, Upadhyay U, Raine TR: With pills, patches, rings, and shots: Who still uses condoms? A longitudinal cohort study. J Adol Health 2012; In Press.
Tags for this article:
Teen Sexuality/Pregnancy/Contraception
Children and Young People's Health
Comments on this article
Please note: CFAH reserves the right to moderate all comments posted to the Health Behavior News Service. Any inappropriate postings will be removed.
| claudia says November 7, 2012 at 4:07 PM This article is a eye opener for many. Not everyone knows that even if you are on a hormonal contraceptive you still should use a condom. Condoms protect against pregnancy and STIs, but condoms are still not 100%. Hormonal contraceptives really only protect against pregnancy if that is all you are using. Now as the article said the dual method is the way most girls should go. Yet this is still not even fool proof but it is better then just one or the other.I personally believe all young women should use the dual method to be extra safe! |
| eyrznifav says May 9, 2013 at 2:07 AM Cling to: of the look up before Sa VS Milan? Does  of desk look forward to break M � ? the poorest dream 3 be born? Hotspot one: Milan whether defend get the better of fruit promotionCling to Sa and Milan are on history of champion league matches in all engage in a battle 14, cling to Sa 6 get the better of 4 smooth 4 negative on one-up; Be opposite in 6 of Nuokanpu blast in, cling to Sa is right Milan 3 get the better of 2 smooth only 1 negative. 1/8 final head in the argue of the bout, milan advocate field 2-0 is over get the better of cling to Sa, obtained in the contention of 8 strong chairs first machine; On European competition ground, milan falls to be washed out besides the circumstance that precedes in 2-0 of allied cup quarterfinal when 1995-96 sports season outside, the circumstance that 12 times 2-0 precedes leaves the rest Milan promotes smoothly entirely. Enter after 2013, milan cares about armour and Ou Guan keep indefectible in these two matches, near future impetus quite beautiful, if a bout can be defended to be opposite in guest field blast when the success of 2-0 if really, score the word of one ball again, milanese aux will be able to promotes smoothly 8 strong. Hotspot 2: Cling to Sa whether break up dishOu Guan partly finals head bout cling to Sa 0-2 not enemy Milan, benchangbisaibasa returns Nuo bank Pu Yingdi, infiltrate in 0 adversary the ability below the circumstance of 3 balls promotes only; It is not easy to want 3-0 to beat Milan, but cling to Sa is not without this actual strength, the key of this field match depends [url=http://www.studio-systems.com/jordansneaker.aspx]cheap jordans sneakers[/url] on wanting guarantee against to be scored a goal by Milan above all; Last weekend on the west armour league matches, basashi check 343 new blast, of 3 full back blast model quite successful, cling to Sa eventually 0 sealed adversary, cast off each match successive 13 matches have the awkward record that throws a ball; Zhou Zhong is opposite a Milan when, ba Sare can assure the 0 words that break a ball, turn over dish of odds to will increase greatly. But if be washed out by Milan, this will be Ba Sameng the poorest 3 military successes since building a line, they never drop before this had given Ou Guan 4 strong besides. Hotspot 3: Haing dimension hopeful reappears, mei Xi whether athletic battle scores a goalBasade goes to interest good news before fierce fight, the Harvey that be hurt because of right ham muscle all the time after kingly cup semifinal and hangs a tablet of truce high has been hurt heal and begin to attend whole group to train normally, zhou San is opposite a Milan when, he should can reappear a hair. If can come on the stage, this Ou Guan will become the war of Harvey's milepost, he what play Europe coronal game the 127th times will stand side by side together with Kaxiliyasi become join Ou Guan number the 3rd much player. Besides breathing out dimension hopeful to reappear, another player that deserves attention is Mei Xi, mei Xi is opposite before this blast 3 goals had been scored when Milan, but this 3 balls are bit of ball entirely, mei Xi returns the goal that has not cross Milan in the breach in athletic battle; 1/8 final head the bout is opposite a Milan when, mei Xi is stared at dead thoroughly by Milan, whole match does not have pretty shoot a few times, benchangbisaibasa advocate field is right a Milan, hope Mei Xi can obtain athletic battle to score a goal to Milan. Hotspot 4: Paqini gets hurt to be opposite without the predestined relationship blast cling to Sa |
Add Your Comment
HEALTH BEHAVIOR NEWS
 |
Parents Prefer Some, Often Less-Effective, Birth Control Methods for Teens |
 |
When Prompted, Fathers Will Talk with Their Kids about Delaying Sexual Activity |
 |
Sexually Abused Boys Engage in More Unsafe Sex |
 |
Girls Who Rely on a Boyfriend for Money Are Less Likely to Use Condoms |
 |
Black, Hispanic, Poor Young Women Less Likely to Complete HPV Vaccinations |
 |
|
 |
|
 |