title: Women's attitudes towards monthly bleeding: results of a global population-based survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Monthly bleeding can be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Fifty years after the introduction of the pill, one wonders whether women still want to bleed every month.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-national online survey of women aged 15-49 years (N = 4039) who were currently using, had used or would consider using a hormonal contraceptive. The survey was conducted in eight countries across Europe, North America and Latin America to assess attitudes towards monthly bleeding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost one-third of women reported that bleeding had a severe negative impact on their daily life, particularly with respect to sexual life and sports activities. Approximately 60% of women would, at least sometimes, like to postpone their bleeding and 50% wished they had the flexibility to determine when their menstrual bleeding starts. Overall, 34% of women would change the frequency of their bleeding to once every two or three months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Past, current or future users of hormonal contraception reported that bleeding has a severe negative impact on daily life. Given the choice, most women surveyed would reduce the frequency of their bleeding.
authors: Centre for Cancer Prevention, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, London, UK. a.szarewski@qmul.ac.uk
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Szarewski
authors: Ariane
authors: A
authors: von Stenglin
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Rybowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008598:Menstruation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal