Women Slow to Adopt Birth Control that Fits Their Lifestyle

76% Would Prefer to Get Their Period Less Often But Only 8% Have Tried Contraceptive Options That Allow Them to do This

Red Bank, NJ - According to a new study by the not-for-profit National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC), the nation's leading source for women's health information, the majority of women (76%) report that they would prefer to get their period less often and 74 percent consider their period a nuisance.

At the same time, only 8 percent report having tried continuous contraceptive pills that allow a woman to get her period once a quarter or even once a year. Among those who have not tried continuous contraceptives and are not interested in doing so, concerns about long-term side effects (60%), a feeling that it is not healthy to have a period less than once a month (49%), and a lack of interest in oral contraceptives (47%) are the leading impediments.

While the number of women who have tried oral contraceptives that allow them to get their periods less often than once a month is very small, 70% of this group is satisfied with their experience using this form of birth control.

"Continuous contraceptive pills have risks and long-term side effects that are very similar to standard, monthly birth control pills which are the most widely used form of contraceptive," said Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, RN, executive director of NWHRC. "Women need to talk with their health care provider and learn more about their options when it comes to managing their menstrual cycle to fit with their lifestyle choices."

Among those who have used more than form of birth control, oral contraceptive pills (44%) and the male condom (20%) are the most commonly preferred methods. Women cite fitting into their lifestyle well (52%) and ease of use (43%) as the primary reasons for their choice.

Seventy-four percent of women report having used some form of oral contraceptives and 68 percent report using a male condom as a method of birth control. Conversely, 12 percent of women have never used any form of birth control, particularly those in the 18-24 year old range where the number never having used birth control rises to 29 percent.

To help educate women about their options for menstrual management, NWHRC has produced a series of publications that are available at www.HealthyWomen.org by clicking on "Health Guides" or checking out the content on birth control pills in its Health A to Z library.

For complete study results, please click here.

About the survey:
The Menstrual Management Survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of the National Women's Health Resource Center between July 31, 2008 and August 7, 2008 among 250 women aged 18-45 who reside in the U.S., who are not post-menopausal and who have not experienced a health condition or surgical procedure that prevents them from being able to become pregnant. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated; a full methodology is available. The survey was 6 minutes in length.

About the National Women's Health Resource Center:
The not-for-profit National Women's Health Resource Center is the leading independent health information source for women. NWHRC develops and distributes up-to-date and objective women's health information based on the latest advances in medical research and practice. NWHRC believes all women should have access to the most trusted and reliable health information. Information empowers women to make the best decisions to maintain and improve their health and the health of their families.

About Harris Interactive®
Harris Interactive is a global leader in custom market research. With a long and rich history in multimodal research, powered by our science and technology, we assist clients in achieving business results. Harris Interactive serves clients globally through our North American, European and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

Resources:
Your Menstrual Cycle: How it Works, How to Manage it

Women's Health Update: No More Periods? Managing Your Menstrual Cycle Today

Contact: Marisa Rainsberger
1-877-986-9472