The oral contraceptive pill: use, user satisfaction, side effects and fears among Manawatu women.

The 1978 Manawatu Family Growth Study included questions on the oral contraceptive pill to gauge aspects of its use, user satisfaction and the experience of side effects and fears. Of the 1390 women aged 16-44 interviewed, 1085 (78 percent) had ever used the pill--411 and 674 were current and previous users, respectively. Among the current users 45.2 percent stated they sometimes forgot to take the pill and 50 percent reported they were not entirely happy about using the pill. For dissatisfied current users and all previous users it was found that: (a) various side effects were experienced by substantial percentages in each group, the most common being weight gain or swelling; and (b) a fear of permanent damage to health was acknowledged by more than half of each group. Concern caused by publicity on side effects was reported by 46.9 percent of those who had ever used the pill. These and other results, and their implications, indicate a need for instruction, guidance and counselling for oral contraceptive users.