Summary of themes* relating to reasons for changing contraception, across 1051 free text responses†
| Both contraceptive and non-contraceptive (n=43) | Relationship or sexual (n=93) | Medical (n=117) | Contraceptive (n=193) | Non-contraceptive (n=428) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Because I don’t want babies just yet, and the pill helps my acne (#834122) | Became sexually active (#811448) | Because I was diagnosed with PCOS and went on the pill for it (#830983) | Am now off the pill as I am scared of infertility (#827226) | Because the Implanon made me gain too much weight (#836071) |
| I have started the pill for both contraceptive and painful periods (#884777) | First had sex (#879448) | Changed the brand of pill I use due to medical issues (#871198) | After my abortion I have decided to be extra careful (#847125) | Changed due to heavier periods, but acne got worse so changed back (#844168) |
| I tried the Mirena…it was terrible, I am unreliable with my pill taking and have problems with nausea (#828786) | I had my first experience with vaginal sex last year, and since then I’m using condoms as contraception as well as the pill (#847339) | Doctor recommended 30ED rather than 35ED (#809190) | Changed from pill to Implanon - would often forget to take pill (#821740) | I was on depo but was experiencing loss of libido, extreme mood swings and depression (#867340) |
| Period pain and pregnancy scare (#812346) | I started to have sex with my boyfriend (#851592) | Doctors told me to (#868386) | Condoms to prevent pregnancy for now (#828518) | The pill for my acne (#863702) |
| To get rid of acne and to have extra protection (#824027) | Male request (#828810) | I have stopped the pill. Increases risk for cancer (#820615) | Had a pregnancy scare (#888220) | Too many side-effects (#818264) |
| Used to have regular sex, and now am not, also want to see what stage my irregular bleeding is at now that I’m off the pill (#867996) | Not having regular sex so have stopped the pill (#859800) | Implant removed and not replaced as of yet due to illness (#819937) | I already have a baby and don’t want another unplanned pregnancy (#843031) | Had to change from regular pill for cost reasons (#807889) |
| Started the copper IUD, due to wanting an effective non-hormonal method, but strongly disliking condoms and not using them properly (responsibility of both me and my partner). Didn’t want to keep using withdrawal method (#877814) | Stopped condom use with primary partner (#881210) | Replacement of Implanon due to expiry (#886079) | I kept forgetting to take the pill (#883285) | I have decided to go back on the pill again after a 6 month detox (#856387) |
| Wasn’t on the oral pill for a while as they were causing headaches but have started again so it is ready for when I get married in February. We don’t want kids straight away as we are both going to be studying (#887938) | Use protection when not in a relationship (#816683) | To manage endometriosis (#873670) | I stopped taking the pill because WE wanted to have another baby (#810621) | Previous contraception had not worked, by causing heavy bleeding (#805801) |
| Went from the pill to the copper IUD. Was forgetting to take the pill. IUD is cheaper and doesn’t release hormones. The pill was giving me acne (#863889) | Was in a relationship and was on the pill and when this relationship ended I stopped using the pill and started using condoms with casual partners (#882451) | Trying to find a contraceptive pill that does not affect my depression as negatively (#876536) | Stopped taking the pill 6 months ago in order to conceive (#856289) | Stopped taking the pill to give my body a break from it (#810988) |
| Went off the pill due to weight gain/boyfriend moving away, started using condoms instead (#886652) | Yes, just got into new relationship. No more Implanon. Trying pill (#848244) | Taken off the pill by doctors due to heart conditions (#853851) | Needed something more reliable than condoms (#863370) | Trying to find the right pill for me (#846599) |
*Extracts are presented underneath each theme.
†The sample numbers represented in the columns do not add up to 1051 because 177 responses were not coded – see Methods for more detail.
IUD, intrauterine device; PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome.