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A preliminary study of a new contraceptive vaginal sponge containing the spermicide nonoxynol -9 (N-9), was undertaken to assess acceptability of the method among a group of sexually active volunteers in Mexico City. Numerous modifications of the product and its packaging resulted from user experience and feedback to the physicians and bioengineers conducting the study. Although determining efficacy of the sponge was not an objective, it quickly became clear that spermicide is a crucial component of the intravaginal sponge contraceptive system; a high incidence of pregnancies led us to increase the spermicide level from 10% to 20%, then to the current 30% of dry sponge weight, or about 1.0 gram per sponge. (It should be noted that the high pregnancy rates were consistent with our experience using other vaginal contraceptive methods in the same clinic population). This initial evaluation of the contraceptive sponge has resulted in significant modification which should increase its acceptability to a small but important group of contracepting women. The sponge is currently being evaluated by the International Fertility Research Program (IFRP) in multicentered comparative clinical trials to determine use-effectiveness and acceptability in various cultures.
A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire examining opinions and experiences of using Reality, the "female" condom, for anal sex was completed by a convenience sample of 100 men who have sex with men (MSM). Eighty-six percent of respondents said they would use Reality again; 54% would rather use Reality than penile condoms. Acceptability was higher among MSM who were HIV positive, in nonmonogamous relationships, or who had serodiscordant partners. Negative experiences included: difficulty inserting (33%), irritation (17%), bunching up (12%), unpleasant texture (10%), and noise (9%). Breakage was reported three times in 334 episodes of use. Although no available data compare preferences and efficacy of Reality to penile condoms, Reality is a welcome alternative for some MSM who have difficulty consistently using penile condoms and probably reduces HIV transmission compared with unprotected anal sex. Research to more definitively assess Reality as a risk reduction method for MSM is greatly needed.
This study assessed the frequency of use, knowledge, and attitudes toward the contraceptive sponge in sexually active, inner-city, black and Hispanic adolescent females. A 54-item, self-administered questionnaire was completed by 208 adolescents (mean age 17.9 years) attending a gynecology/family planning clinic within a comprehensive adolescent health center. Twenty-nine (13.9%) had never used any birth control, and 49 (23.6%) had not used any form of birth control in the 3 months prior to the study. Fifty-three (25.5%) of the adolescents had used a less reliable method such as rhythm and/or withdrawal. The birth control method used least was the sponge. Only four (1.9%) of the adolescents had used the sponge in the 3 months prior to the study, and only ten (4.8%) had ever used it. Knowledge of the correct use of the sponge was poor. However, 69 (44.8%) of the 156 girls who knew about the sponge had a positive attitude toward it, and only 19% said they did not like it. The contraceptive sponge may be a viable option for adolescents, particularly those who are not using birth control or who are using a less reliable method.
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The consistent and correct use of the male condom makes it highly effective in both disease prevention and as a contraceptive method. However, it is also well recognized that its use is under men's control. Because of this vital limitation, there have been frequent calls for female-controlled methods of HIV prevention, particularly from women from sub-Saharan Africa. Here we report on data collected in focus-group discussions (FGDs) with women aged 17-54 in South-Western Uganda. A total of 138 women, from rural villages, urban family planning clinics and a truck-stop town, were recruited to participate in 18 FGDs on the male condom, the female condom and existing formulations of vaginal microbicidal products. Three themes emerged: (i) problems with men's control over the male condom, (ii) the importance of control over and secrecy about protective measures and (iii) sexual pleasure associated with different methods. We found that the female condom, while being perceived as an improvement over the male condom, was recognized as having limited value because of the need to agree its use prior to sex taking place. Other products were considered to be significantly better than the female condom; the sponge, in particular, was perceived as having advantages over every other product. Women like the fact that it could be inserted some time before, and left in place some time after, sexual intercourse, that it was effective for multiple instances of intercourse, and that men would be unaware that it was being employed. Female-controlled methods to prevent sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and to increase reproductive choice, hold the promise of ceding some control over sexual and reproductive health to women.
During the period April 1984-February 1985, 4 test samples of totally 380 young Danish women aged 16-20 years old were invited to interview about contraception and sexual behaviour. The response rate was 75.3%. There were 208 (74.0%) who had had sexual debut. Median age was estimated to 16.8 years. At first intercourse 168 (80.8%) used contraception, 36.5% used condom and 36.1% oral contraception (OC). Among teenage-girls with sexual debut before 15 years old 32.5% were unprotected against pregnancy. At the time of the interview 64.4% did use contraception. The most frequently used contraceptive device was OC (46.6%). Teenage-girls changed the contraceptive method from condom to OC after sexual debut. A small proportion of sexually active girls (8%) did not use contraception neither at first intercourse nor at the moment.
This study expands upon coupon distribution strategies used to measure male condom acquisition in HIV/AIDS prevention by incorporating both female and male condoms and examining factors related to coupon redemption among urban STD clinic patients.
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A retrospective study of 1,311 women making initial family planning visits to metropolitan-area health department clinics found that many women switch methods or discontinue use in the first year following the clinic visits. Among a subgroup of women, most of whom selected the pill as their primary method and who used the pill for at least one of the months in the study period, almost half either changed methods or used no method at some point during a follow-up period averaging eight months. This includes 13 percent of women who made two or more changes. In addition, only 42 percent said they took a pill every day, and only half of these said they always took their pill at about the same time every day. Despite such irregularities, pill users were approximately one-third as likely to get pregnant during the study period as women making an initial family planning visit to a health department clinic who did not use the pill at all.
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