[Oral contraception in France in 2001: results of an opinion poll survey conducted on 3609 women between 15 and 45].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study concerning the taking of the pill in France in 2001 was threefold, i.e. to assess its rate as well as its characteristics of use, and to appraise the most frequent side effects as reported by women.


METHODS
Three thousand six hundred and nine women representative of the French female population between 15 and 45 years of age were recruited thanks to a survey, which took place in 2001. The data were collected from self-questionnaires.


RESULTS
Women on the whole have quite a good opinion of oral contraception and most of them are convinced of its efficiency. As far as pill tolerance is concerned, opinions do vary, more than half of the women judging that being on the pill is not without side-effects. Though, the rate of use of oral contraceptives has increased by 12% since 1994. Most women (48%) use first and second generation pills and this in all age brackets. Thirty per cent of women aged 30 to 45 keep loyal to the same patent medicine, which they keep using for more than 10 years. Among the side-effects that can be found, two of them--putting on weight (31%) and hydrosodium retention (26%)--are the most frequently quoted, in all age brackets. This accounts for the relatively low ratio of women who find their pill quite satisfactory (58% of the cases).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the diversity of all the different patented pills that are available, efforts are still to be made in order to reduce what side-effects are encountered when using them.
Laveissière
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Service de gynécologie-obstétrique II, clinique chirurgicale Baudelocque, hôpital Cochin, 12, boulevard de Port-Royal, 75014 Paris, France. marie-noelle.laveissiere@cch.ap-hop-paris.fr
Pélissier
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015430:Weight Gain
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral