Table 3.
Women’s experiences with their current and previous methods of contraception
| UK | Germany | Spain | Italy | USA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Satisfaction with current method,% |
(n=507)a |
(n=514)a |
(n=510)a |
(n=503)a |
(n=507)a |
| Very satisfied |
53 |
54 |
41 |
27 |
52 |
| Satisfied |
31 |
33 |
41 |
57 |
26 |
| Neither satisfied or dissatisfied |
9 |
8 |
7 |
9 |
12 |
|
Experienced side effects*,% |
|||||
| Current method (n)a |
18 (313) |
9 (321) |
16 (308) |
5 (342) |
20 (262) |
| Previous method (n)a |
51 (491) |
29 (501) |
45 (468) |
26 (479) |
52 (465) |
| With contraceptive pill (n)b |
78 (258) |
79 (148) |
87 (217) |
87 (131) |
81 (244) |
| With hormone injections (n)b |
24 (258) |
9 (148) |
1 (217) |
0 (131) |
18 (244) |
| With implants (n)b |
7 (258) |
3 (148) |
0 (217) |
0 (131) |
1 (244) |
| With IUD/IUS (n)b |
10 (258) |
12 (148) |
5 (217) |
5 (131) |
5 (244) |
| With vaginal ring (n)b |
0 (258) |
8 (148) |
6 (217) |
2 (131) |
5 (244) |
| With transdermal patch (n)b |
0 (258) |
3 (148) |
3 (217) |
2 (131) |
4 (244) |
|
Common side effects experienced with the contraceptive pill,% |
(n=202)c |
(n=117)c |
(n=189)c |
(n=114)c |
(n=198)c |
| Weight gain |
51 |
44 |
50 |
51 |
45 |
| Mood swings |
39 |
35 |
30 |
29 |
38 |
| Headaches |
25 |
26 |
32 |
27 |
26 |
| Irritability |
26 |
26 |
21 |
16 |
33 |
| Change in libido |
24 |
30 |
30 |
7 |
23 |
| Breast tenderness/enlargement |
24 |
26 |
26 |
16 |
22 |
| Short temper |
23 |
11 |
20 |
14 |
24 |
| Migraines |
22 |
21 |
17 |
20 |
14 |
| Pre-menstrual bloating |
22 |
9 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
| Pre-menstrual syndrome | 20 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 20 |
*Incidence of side effects with methods not listed was ≤1% in all countries.
aNumber of women responding to the question;
bTotal number of women who experienced side effects either with their current or previous method.
cTotal number of women experiencing side effects, currently or previously, with the contraceptive pill.