TY - JOUR
T1 - Women’s preferences for menstrual bleeding frequency in 12 European countries
T2 - the Inconvenience Due to Women’s Monthly Bleeding (ISY) survey
AU - Fiala, Christian
AU - Chabbert-Buffet, Nathalie
AU - Häusler, Günther
AU - Jamin, Christian
AU - Lete, Iñaki
AU - Lobo, Paloma
AU - Nappi, Rossella E.
AU - Pintiaux, Axelle
PY - 2017/7/4
Y1 - 2017/7/4
N2 - Objectives: Our aim was to assess the level of inconvenience associated with menstrual bleeding and determine how many women across 12 European countries would prefer a bleeding frequency of less than once a month and what would motivate their choice. Methods: A 15-min quantitative online survey was conducted in two waves among 5728 women aged between 18 and 45 years, with an equal distribution of women using a combined hormonal contraceptive (CHC group, n = 2739) and women using a non-hormonal contraceptive or no contraceptive (non-HC group, n = 2989). The first wave was carried out in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Poland and Spain, in February 2015, and the results have been published. The second wave was conducted in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Latvia and the Netherlands, between August and September 2015. Results: The menstrual period was significantly longer (5.0 versus 4.6 days) and heavier (15 versus 7%) in non-HC users than in CHC users (p <.0001). Given the choice, ∼60% of women would like less frequent menstrual bleeding. There was heterogeneity in the preference across countries. Sexuality, social life, work and sporting activities were key factors affecting women’s preference. Conclusion: The majority of women in the 12 European countries would prefer to reduce the frequency of menstrual periods. Quality of life was the main factor affecting their preference.
AB - Objectives: Our aim was to assess the level of inconvenience associated with menstrual bleeding and determine how many women across 12 European countries would prefer a bleeding frequency of less than once a month and what would motivate their choice. Methods: A 15-min quantitative online survey was conducted in two waves among 5728 women aged between 18 and 45 years, with an equal distribution of women using a combined hormonal contraceptive (CHC group, n = 2739) and women using a non-hormonal contraceptive or no contraceptive (non-HC group, n = 2989). The first wave was carried out in Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Poland and Spain, in February 2015, and the results have been published. The second wave was conducted in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Latvia and the Netherlands, between August and September 2015. Results: The menstrual period was significantly longer (5.0 versus 4.6 days) and heavier (15 versus 7%) in non-HC users than in CHC users (p <.0001). Given the choice, ∼60% of women would like less frequent menstrual bleeding. There was heterogeneity in the preference across countries. Sexuality, social life, work and sporting activities were key factors affecting women’s preference. Conclusion: The majority of women in the 12 European countries would prefer to reduce the frequency of menstrual periods. Quality of life was the main factor affecting their preference.
KW - Attitudes
KW - Europe
KW - menstrual bleeding
KW - oral contraception
KW - preferences
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U2 - 10.1080/13625187.2017.1334258
DO - 10.1080/13625187.2017.1334258
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85021268195
VL - 22
SP - 268
EP - 273
JO - European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care
JF - European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care
SN - 1362-5187
IS - 4
ER -