Gynaecological health care utilization and use of sex hormones--the study of Health in Pomerania.
BACKGROUND
In Germany, there is a lack of population-based data related to the use of gynaecological health care services. The objectives of our analyses utilizing a population-based cross-sectional survey conducted in one geographically defined area [Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP)] are to assess the prevalences of: (i) attendance of gynaecological outpatient facilities and of (cervical) cancer screening; (ii) gynaecological and breast surgery; (iii) use of oral contraceptives (OC) and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT).


METHODS
We analysed socio-demographic factors, reproductive history, gynaecological service utilization, and use of sex hormones in 2186 women aged 20-79 years. We used standard statistics and sex- and age group-specific weighting factors to reflect characteristics of the population of Western Pomerania.


RESULTS
Approximately 43% of women reported surgical procedures. Participation in cancer screening at least once was reported by 78% of women (lifetime prevalence). Two-thirds of women stated ever use of OC, 28% (aged >40 years) ever use of MHT.


CONCLUSIONS
Women in Western Pomerania reported a high life-time use of both OC and MHT. The use of cervical cancer screening exceeded the national average. Women had an almost 50% risk of undergoing gynaecological, breast or obstetric surgery. The high use of MHT and surgical procedures calls for efforts regarding continuing medical education and health care policy actions.
Schwarz
S
S
Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Clinical Research Center of Women's Health, Germany.
Völzke
H
H
Alte
D
D
Hoffmann
W
W
John
U
U
Dören
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000601:surgery; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D006176:Gynecology / Q000379:methods*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018456:Reproductive Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D012306:Risk; D012923:Social Class; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones