title: Knowledge about various contraceptive methods in young women with and without eating disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if young women with eating disorders (EDs) have altered views about the risks/benefits of different forms of birth control than the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected using a cross-sectional, survey-based study of postmenarchal women aged 13-25 years with a diagnosed ED (n = 50) or no history of disordered eating patterns (n =57).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite having a higher level of education (p = 0.04) and no differences in sexual history (p = 0.16), ED patients were less knowledgeable than controls about the health risks and benefits, effectiveness in preventing HIV, and effectiveness in preventing pregnancy of various methods of birth control (p≤ 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ED patients may be incorrectly presumed to be asexual while working on recovery; physicians may need to take extra time to educate ED patients about their personal risks of unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and the benefits that different methods of contraception can provide.
authors: Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. romee@ccf.org
authors: Caitlin W
authors: CW
authors: Hicks
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: DeMarsh
authors: Harjoat
authors: H
authors: Singh
authors: Laura A
authors: LA
authors: Gillespie
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Worley
authors: Ellen S
authors: ES
authors: Rome
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000523:psychology*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology