Relationships between condoms, hormonal methods, and sexual pleasure and satisfaction: an exploratory analysis from the Women's Well-Being and Sexuality Study.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about how condoms and other contraceptives influence women's sexual enjoyment, which could shape use patterns.


METHODS
Data from an online study of women's sexual health and functioning were used to examine how three categories of contraceptive use - hormonal method only, condoms primarily, and dual use - could help predict decreased sexual pleasure associated with contraceptive method and overall sexual satisfaction in the past 4 weeks.


RESULTS
In analyses controlling for age, relationship length, and other variables, male condoms were most strongly associated with decreased pleasure, whether used alone or in conjunction with hormonal methods. Women who used hormonal methods alone were least likely to report decreased pleasure, but they also had significantly lower overall scores of sexual satisfaction compared with the other two groups. Dual users, or women who used both condoms and a hormonal method, reported the highest sexual satisfaction scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Because male condoms were viewed by many of these women as decreasing sexual pleasure, sexual risk practices are likely to be affected. Although hormonal only users were highly unlikely to report decreased pleasure, they reported lower sexual satisfaction compared with the other two groups. Dual users, who had the highest sexual satisfaction scores, may have been the most sexually satisfied because they felt more fully protected against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmissible infections - consistent with previous qualitative documentation of 'eroticising safety.' This exploratory study suggests that different contraceptives affect sexuality in various ways, warranting further research into these sexual dimensions and how they influence contraceptive practices.
Higgins
Jenny A
JA
Office of Population Research, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. jennyh@princeton.edu
Hoffman
Susie
S
Graham
Cynthia A
CA
Sanders
Stephanie A
SA
D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral