A comparative study on satisfaction from hormonal contraceptives: depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), Cyclofem and LD

BACKGROUND: Irregular population growth is considered as a serious threat to the international community and is also a major obstacle for nations’ social and economic development. Thus, one of the ways to have a healthy community is to control the population and provide safe and effective contraceptive methods. Hormonal contraceptives are the most effective method of birth spacing. The present study aimed to determine and compare satisfaction from hormonal contraceptives including depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), Cyclofem and LD in women referred to selected health care centers of Isfahan in 2010. METHODS: This was a descriptive-comparative study with cross-sectional data collection method from 26 April 2010 to 28 October 2010. Simple non-probability sampling was used to select 150 individuals (divided into three groups of 50) among the females who referred to 8 selected health care centers in Isfahan to receive DMPA, Cyclofem, or LD for the first time, and/or those who had used contraceptives for three months. To assess satisfaction rate and its related factors, the standard ORTHO Birth Control Satisfaction Assessment Tool (BC-SAT) was completed three months after medicine consumption through interviewing. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Fisher's exact, chi-square, ANOVA, and LSD tests). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in terms of mean score of satisfaction between the three groups. Cyclofem (192.2) and DMPA (188.1) gained the highest and lowest mean satisfaction scores, respectively. Although the mean satisfaction score in areas of ease of use/appropriateness, interference in menstruation pattern, acceptance and continuation of the method had significant differences in three groups, no statistically significant difference was observed in lifestyle, confidence to the method, side effects, concerns about future pregnancies and total satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, there was no difference in satisfaction from the three studied hormonal contraceptives.