Schering-Plough Announces Imperfect Contraceptive Use Impacts Women's Emotional ...( Study Published in April ...),Health

Study Published in April 2008 Issue of Contraception

KENILWORTH, N.J., April 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Schering-Plough Corporation today announced results of a recently completed study showing that non-compliance with combined hormonal contraceptives has noticeable effects on women's emotional well-being, prompted requests for physicians' advice and led to increased use of emergency contraception. Results were presented today in Madrid, Spain, and were published earlier this month in Contraception.

The cross-sectional, multi center study was designed to assess the self-described impact of noncompliant behavior among 26,250 current users, aged 18 to 49, of three combined hormonal contraceptive methods, the combined pill, the skin patch and NUVARING(R) (etonogestrel/ethinyl estradiol vaginal ring), the vaginal ring.

"The study included questions about attitudes and psychological impact of inconsistent use of the contraceptive method when confronted with noncompliant behavior, an issue that has been poorly characterized in previous studies," commented Dr Inaki Lete, Hospital Santiago Apostol, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain and lead investigator. "These considerations will help health-care professionals to empower women to increase compliance with the prescribed contraceptive regimens."

The study found that 71 percent of pill users, 32 percent of patch users and 21.6 percent of ring users reported noncompliant behavior ( p<0.0001 for all comparisons). Between 10 and 20 percent of women reported that noncompliant behavior with their current method negatively affected work activities and their relationship with their partner, and about 3 percent had missed days of work or school. A higher percentage of pill users reported that they were 'worried' or 'scared' (68.8 percent and 22.6 percent respectively) compared with women using the skin patch (61.7 percent and 19 percent) or the vaginal ring (58.3 percent and 16.4 percent) (p<0.0001).
'/>"/>