title: Effects of two types of hormonal contraception--oral versus intravaginal--on the sexual life of women and their partners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data relating to the influence of hormonal contraception on sexual life are conflicting and mostly they refer to oral contraceptives. In this randomized, controlled, prospective study we compared the effect of an intravaginal hormonal contraceptive with the effect of a combined oral contraceptive on sexual function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one healthy women with a permanent partner and an active sexual life were randomly divided in two groups according to a computer-generated randomization list: 26 women (group A) used an intravaginal contraceptive releasing 120 microg/day of etonogestrel and 15 microg/day of ethinylestradiol (EE) and 25 women (group B) used an oral contraceptive containing 20 microg di EE and 150 microg of desogestrel. Twenty-five women participated in the study as control group (group C). A specific questionnaire was completed by the patients and their partners at the start of the study and after cycles 3 and 6 of contraceptive use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within 3 months of contraceptive use, women from both groups A and B reported a global improvement in sexual function. A statistically significant increase in sexual fantasy was reported only by patients of group A. Whereas partners of the women in both groups A and B reported an improvement in sexual function after 3 months of contraceptive intake, only patients' partners of group A reported a significant increase in sexual interest, complicity and sexual fantasy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both hormonal contraceptives tested were seen to have a positive effect on some aspects of sexual function. The intravaginal contraceptive ring seems to exert a further positive effect on the psychological aspect of both women and their partners, which is evident from an improved complicity and sexual satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ostetricia, Ginecologia e Fisiopatologia della Riproduzione Umana, Università di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italia. cdispie@tin.it
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Spiezio Sardo
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bramante
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sparice
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acunzo
authors.forename: Giovanni Antonio
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tommaselli
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellicano
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nappi
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000523:psychology; D019529:Sexuality / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004967:Estrogens; C044815:etonogestrel; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D017135:Desogestrel