title: Use of prescription contraceptive methods in the UK general population: a primary care study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine prescription contraceptive use in the UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study using a primary care database.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Health Improvement Network (THIN).
  
  
  METHODS
  Women in THIN aged 12-49 years in 2008, registered with their primary care doctor for at least 5 years, and with a prescription history of at least 1 year were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  THIN was searched using the Read and MULTILEX codes for the following methods: combined oral contraceptives (COCs), progestogen-only pills (POPs), copper intrauterine devices (Cu-IUDs), the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), progestogen-only implants, progestogen-only injections, and contraceptive patches.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence, switching, and duration of prescriptions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A cohort of 194 054 women was identified. The prevalence of contraceptive use was: COCs, 16.2% (95% confidence interval, 95% CI 16.1-16.3%); POPs, 5.6% (95% CI 5.5-5.6%); Cu-IUD, 4.5% (95% CI 4.4-4.5%); LNG-IUS, 4.2% (95% CI 4.1-4.2%); progestogen-only implants, 1.5% (95% CI 1.5-1.6%); progestogen-only injections, 2.4% (95% CI 2.3-2.4%); and contraceptive patches, 0.1% (95% CI 0.1-0.2%). Within 1 year, 9.8% of new COC users switched to alternative COCs, and 9.0% changed to a different method. Among new COC users who did not switch method, 34.8% did not continue use beyond 3 months, and were no longer using a prescription contraceptive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among users of oral contraceptives who did not switch method, over one-third did not continue use beyond 3 months. This supports current UK guidelines recommending a follow-up consultation with a healthcare professional 3 months after the first prescription of COCs.
authors.affiliation: Spanish Centre for Pharmacoepidemiologic Research (CEIFE), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cea-Soriano
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: García Rodríguez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machlitt
authors.forename: M-A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wallander
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004343:Drug Implants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011372:Progestins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057968:Transdermal Patch / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D004343:Drug Implants; D011372:Progestins
keywords: Contraceptives; The Health Improvement Network; UK; discontinuation; prevalence; switching