Contraceptive health risks--women's perceptions.

The aim was to study women's concerns about health risks associated with contraceptives, in particular oral contraceptives and intrauterine devices (IUDs), and to investigate what factors are related to these concerns. A questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 3000 women aged 18-44 years in Finland in 1994. After two reminders, the response rate was 74% (n = 2189). Logistical models were used to examine factors that were related to concerns over oral contraceptives and IUDs. Half (n = 1096) of the respondents had at some time been concerned about the risks of contraceptives. Most concerns (71%) were related to oral contraceptives. Cardiovascular effects, cancer, infertility, mood changes and weight gain were the most commonly specified risks related to oral contraceptives, and infections, effects on menstruation and ectopic pregnancy were most mentioned regarding IUDs. Concerns about oral contraceptives were related to higher education [odds ratio (OR) 1.75; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-2.21], past experience with the method (OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.45-2.26) and to a good knowledge about contraception and fertility (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.29-2.19). Concern over IUD risks were most strongly related to past use of the method (OR 3.11; 95% CI 2.24-4.32) and higher age (35-44 years old, OR 2.99; 95% CI 1.52-5.87). Unlike women concerned about the risks of oral contraceptives, women with concerns about IUDs had had abortions more often than other women (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.28-2.48). Women with concerns about oral contraceptives or IUDs used condoms or sterilization as their current contraceptive method significantly more often than other women. Results showed that concern about the risks of contraceptives is strongly related to women's past contraceptive experiences and influences their current use of contraceptives. More attention should be paid to information provided by health care professionals, especially that regarding risk probabilities.