Menstrual bleeding expectations and short-term contraception discontinuation in Mexico
Zetina-Lozano, G.
Studies in Family Planning 14(5): 127-133
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-3665 PMID: 6879617 DOI: 10.2307/1965836Document Number: 294888
509 women aged 20-34 of proven fertility, in current unions and with employed spouses were interviewed for this study of the relation between menstrual bleeding expectations and short term continuation of IUD or pill use. The women were interviewed between October 1978-January 1980 on admission to 30 Mexican Institute of Social Security family planning clinics and reinterviewed 3 months later. Responses from the 1st interview showed that discontinuers of IUDs had longer bleeding episodes than continuers, but expected no increase in bleeding. Women who did not know whether to expect increased duration of bleeding with the pill or IUD showed higher than average discontinuation, roughly 1/4, as did to a lesser extent women who did not know what changes in volume of bleeding to expect. Women who used the IUD and expected cramps had higher than average rates of discontinuation; the difference was not large but was contrary to expectation. Unexpected changes of any kind were associated with higher levels of discontinuation. Of those women who reported no changes in duration or volume of bleeding after 3 months, only 1 in 10 discontinued compared with 1 in 4 women who reported increased bleeding that was regarded unfavorably; pill users with unfavorably regarded decreased bleeding volume or duration discontinued. The results suggest that intial expectations and attitude toward expected changes are good indicators of the likelihood that a woman will discontinue, but interpretation should be made with caution due to the small sample size.