title: Use of contraceptive methods and contraceptive recommendations among health care providers actively involved in contraceptive counseling -- results of an international survey in 10 countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conducted to determine the personal choices of contraceptive methods among an international sample of contraception health care professionals (HCPs) and to determine if these choices are concordant with their recommendations to women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In an anonymous online survey, 1001 HCPs actively involved in contraceptive counseling [obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYNs), general practitioners (GPs) and midwives (only in Sweden)] from 10 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Korea, Mexico, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) were asked about their personal use of contraceptive methods and their recommendations to women in two different clinical scenarios: for spacing between children (Group A) and after completion of the family (Group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The largest HCP group was OB/GYNs (67.1%), followed by GPs (31.4%) and midwives (1.5%). A total of 42.7% of respondents were male, and 57.3% were female. The majority of respondents were aged 36-45 years (38.9%) or 46-55 years (42.8%), 79.7% had children, and 53.9% were currently using contraception (by themselves or by their partners). Among 540 contraceptive users, the three most common methods were the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS; 29.3%), combined oral contraceptives (COCs; 20.0%) and condoms (17.0%). OB/GYNs were more likely to be using the LNG-IUS than GPs (p=.014). Gender did not seem to influence contraceptive preference. Reasons for these choices were largely influenced by family situation and high contraceptive efficacy (for the LNG-IUS) or side effects caused by other methods (for condoms). The top contraceptive recommendation was COCs for Group A and the LNG-IUS for Group B. HCPs currently using COCs and the LNG-IUS were more likely to recommend these methods than other contraceptive methods for Group A and Group B, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most popular contraceptive method in this sample of HCPs was the LNG-IUS. Choice of contraceptive method was driven by family situation, age and profession. It appears that, in this sample, personal contraceptive use influences contraceptive recommendations.
authors: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet/Karolinska University Hospital, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden. kristina.gemzell@ki.se
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Gemzell-Danielsson
authors: SiHyun
authors: S
authors: Cho
authors: Pirjo
authors: P
authors: Inki
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Mansour
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Reid
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Bahamondes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners; D014943:Global Health; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated / Q000009:adverse effects; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery; D009774:Obstetrics; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D011364:Professional Practice; D000078329:Workforce
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D016912:Levonorgestrel