Contraception: satisfaction with the method, effects on sleep and psychological well-being

Abstract

Mood changes during use of contraception are often reported as side effects and reasons for dissatisfaction and discontinuation of use. Recent register-based studies show associations between contraceptive use and risk of depression and attempted suicide, especially in adolescents and during the first months of use.1 2 We prospectively assessed the relationships between use of contraception, satisfaction with the method, sleep-related symptoms and psychological well-being.\n\nWithin the services offered by the City of Helsinki, all women planning or using subdermal contraceptive implants, all nulliparous women planning intrauterine contraception, or women with contraceptive problems are referred to a Centralized Family Planning Clinic. Our study included 182 women of at least 18 years of age attending this clinic. More than a third of them (37.4%) were planning either to change or to discontinue their contraceptive method. Of the remainder, 52 (28.6%) were starting contraception, and 62 (34%) were attending a follow-up visit and continuing with their present method. We divided the participants into three groups: starters, continuers and …