This study addresses attitudes towards changes in menstrual bleeding patterns caused by oral contraceptives (OC) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and preferred changes in bleeding pattern with and without use of OC or HRT in relation to reproductive age group. Data were collected by means of telephone interviews with 325 women in each of four age groups (15-19, 25-34, 45-49, and 52-57 years). In total, 80.5% of currently menstruating women preferred one or more changes in bleeding pattern such as less painful, shorter, or less heavy periods, or amenorrhea. The majority of the menstruating women in all age groups preferred to have a bleeding frequency of less than once a month or never, whether the bleeding was spontaneous or induced by OC. In the case of HRT, amenorrhea was most preferred. These findings with respect to preferred bleeding frequency and OC may have important implications for health care providers and for future contraception development.
PIP: This study addresses attitudes toward changes in menstrual bleeding patterns caused by oral contraceptives (OCs) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and preferred changes in bleeding pattern with and without use of OCs or HRT in relation to reproductive age group. A survey on 325 Dutch women from each of four age categories (15-19, 25-34, 45-49, and 52-57 years) was conducted through telephone interviews. Results showed that OC users and menstruating women prefer one or more changes in bleeding characteristics such as less painful, shorter, or lighter periods. It was less significant in the non-OC users in all age groups (75.1% vs. 86.3%, p = 0.016, in women aged 15-19 years; 60.0% vs. 72.3%, p = 0.030, in women aged 25-34 years; 50.9% vs. 74.5%, p = 0.002, in women aged 45-49 years). Most women would prefer a bleeding frequency of less than once a month or never. The proportion of women who reported amenorrhea as a positive consequence of OC/HRT use increased with age. These findings provide significant implications for health care providers in future contraception development.