| 1. |
- Kero, Anneli, et al.
(författare)
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Contraceptive risk-taking in women and men facing legal abortion
- 2001
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Ingår i: European journal of contraception & reproductive health care. - : Informa Healthcare. - 1362-5187 .- 1473-0782. ; 6:4, s. 205-218
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The aim of the study was to gain knowledge about contraceptive use, reproductive risk-taking and sexuality in Swedish women seeking abortion and their partners. Methods: Two hundred and eleven women and 75 men answered a questionnaire before the abortion. The data have been divided into six subgroups: women with and without previous experience of abortion, single women and women with a partner relationship, and women whose partner participated in the study and the male partners. Results: The main findings showed that there are more similarities than differences between the subgroups. Overall, there were no differences regarding use of contraceptives, sexual life and psychosocial characteristics. However, women with previous abortion experience were found to be older, had longer partner relationships and more often had children. Some gender differences were also found, i.e. women favored coitus-dependent contraceptives to a larger extent and took more responsibility for preventing unwanted pregnancies. At the time of conception, half the participants had not used any contraceptive methods and one-fifth had relied on 'natural family planning'. The most common reasons for not using contraceptives were related to risk-taking and/or to strong sexual desire. Twelve per cent of the women had felt pressure/threat from their partner in connection with the conception. Conclusion: In efforts to prevent undesired pregnancies, this study highlights the need to incorporate a gender perspective both in communication about risk-taking and in counselling about contraceptives.
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| 2. |
- Mårdh, Per-Anders
(författare)
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Bacterial vaginosis: a threat to reproductive health? Historical perspectives, current knowledge, controversies and research demands
- 2000
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Ingår i: European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1362-5187 .- 1473-0782. ; 5:3, s. 208-219
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bacterial vaginosis is a change in flora, the cause of which is still unknown in the vast majority of instances. Bacterial vaginosis has generally been used to represent any change in vaginal flora resulting in an assumed loss of lactobacilli. However, whether such a flora represents the genetically normal state of some women is poorly defined. The present 'crude' diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis ought to be refined. The proposed impact of bacterial vaginosis on adverse pregnancy outcome is contradicted by therapeutic studies involving pregnant women that result in a change in flora to a lactobacillus-dominated vaginal flora, but have no influence on the course ofpregnancy. Most therapies recommended for bacterial vaginosis in non-pregnant women are often successful in the short term, but usually unsuccessful if the follow-up period after finishing therapy is prolonged. Although bacterial vaginosis is generally believed to be an endogenous condition, a number of behavioral factors are involved, such as the use of contraceptive and intimate hygiene products and smoking habits. Although bacterial vaginosis is not considered a true sexually transmitted infection, it is correlated to sexual activities. The current review elaborates on these matters and on the vaginal microbial ecology.
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| 3. |
- Mårdh, Per-Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Correlation between an early sexual debut, and reproductive health and behavioral factors: a multinational European study
- 2000
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Ingår i: European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1362-5187 .- 1473-0782. ; 5:3, s. 177-182
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether women who made an early sexual debut differ from those with a later debut regarding genital signs and symptoms. METHODS: The study included women who considered themselves gynecologically healthy and who attended 17 family planning centers in 13 European countries for contraceptive advice. There were 629 women who made their sexual debut at the age of 16 years or earlier (study population) and 927 women who had their first sexual intercourse at the age of 19 years or later (comparison group). Genital symptoms and signs, contraceptive use, smoking, and genital hygiene habits and previous genital infections were recorded on a structured patient record form. Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis was made by means of a polymerase chain reaction on first-void urine. The study was made, on average, 7-10 years after the women's sexual debut. RESULTS: The mean age of first intercourse was 15.3 years for the study group versus 20.7 years for the control group (p < 0.001). The study population had significantly more symptoms, such as vaginal discharge and pruritus, and signs, such as abnormal discharge, erythema of the vaginal mucosa and lower genital tract infections, than the comparison group. Twice as many women in the study group were smokers and there was a ten-fold increase among these subjects of using low-pH solutions for genital hygiene. The prevalence of C. trachomatis infection did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.22). CONCLUSION: Age at first intercourse is not only a predictor of sexual risk behavior, but also a predictor, regarding both signs and symptoms, of future gynecological problems.
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| 4. |
- Wulff, Marianne, et al.
(författare)
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Coitus-dependent and coitus-independent contraceptive methods in women and men
- 2002
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Ingår i: European journal of contraception & reproductive health care. - : Informa Healthcare. - 1362-5187 .- 1473-0782. ; 7:2, s. 114-120
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To study the use of contraceptives in Sweden. Methods: Analysis of the population-based survey 'Sex in Sweden. On the Swedish sexual life 1996'. The survey was analyzed in relation to socio-demographic, lifestyle, sexual and behavioral characteristics as well as attitudes to, and evaluation of, personal experiences. The data included 2810 men and women between 18 and 74 years of age. The results were compared with a similar survey carried out in 1967. Results: During the 30-year period between the 1967 and 1996 surveys, condom use more than halved and use of oral contraceptives increased by 6 percentage points. The decline in the use of condoms did not occur among teenagers but among all other age groups in both men and women. In 1996 the majority (72%) used a reliable contraceptive method, but 29% did not. Coitus-dependent methods were more frequently used by men and women who were below the age of 21, smoked, used alcohol simultaneously with coitus, had casual partners, were more highly educated, were breastfeeding, had coitus less frequently and among those who were most satisfied with their sexual life and their partner relationship. Conclusion: In order to increase the use of more reliable contraceptive methods, three crucial factors should be focused on in counselling and media campaigns: gender, age and the use of coitus-dependent/coitus-independent methods.
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