title: Factors affecting women's selection of a combined hormonal contraceptive method: the TEAM-06 Spanish cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Contraceptive efficacy and side effects are primary concerns of women when choosing a contraceptive method.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional multicenter study was designed to assess the reasons for selecting the contraceptive pill, the skin patch or the vaginal ring in 9700 women, aged 18-49 years, who consulted their doctors for starting or re-initiating combined hormonal contraception. A self-administered questionnaire regarding the reasons for the selection made and for the refusal of the remaining two methods was completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The vaginal ring showed the highest acceptance (46%) compared with the pill (39%) and the skin patch (15%), particularly in women aged 35-39 years. The ring and the skin patch were mainly preferred because of the lower probability of inadvertent omission (62% of cases), convenience, and monthly or weekly frequency of use. The pill was preferred because of its proven efficacy (60% of cases) and ease of use. The acceptance of the skin patch increased with age and the pill was mostly accepted only by women in the youngest age groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Convenience, frequency of use and lower probability of inadvertent omission were the primary determinants of contraceptive choice rather than the women's profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Santiago Apóstol, E-01004 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. ilete@hsan.osakidetza.net
authors.forename: Iñaki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lete
authors.forename: Jose Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Doval
authors.forename: Ezequiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pérez-Campos
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Borrego
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de la Viuda
authors.forename: Mari Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: José Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lertxundi
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robledo
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003274:Contraceptive Devices, Female / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female