title: A Qualitative Study of Young Women's Beliefs About Intrauterine Devices: Fear of Infertility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately 80% of college-aged women are at risk of unintended pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods, including intrauterine devices (IUDs), as first-line pregnancy prevention for adolescents and young women. Yet, less than 5% of 15- to 19-year-old women using a method of contraception use LARC. Limited research explores young women's concerns about IUDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a larger women's health research study, researchers conducted 53 in-depth interviews with women, aged 18 to 24 years enrolled in a midsized liberal arts college in the southeastern United States. Analytical techniques from the grounded theory approach were used to code line-by-line and identify themes emerging from these data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fear of causing harm or infertility through IUD use emerged as a significant barrier to uptake. Negative and often unfounded beliefs about IUDs led to silence and limited observability of IUDs in daily life and health care contexts. Identity as a fertile woman emerged as an antecedent factor to the compatibility of IUDs with participants' values and beliefs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The link between fear of infertility and perceived identity was found to be a major factor in young women's contraceptive decision making. In order to increase uptake of IUDs, the beliefs of women must be addressed.
authors.forename: Jackelyn B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sundstrom
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: DeMaria
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003267:Contraception / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007434:Intrauterine Devices / Q000009:adverse effects; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015144:Southeastern United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: contraception; fertility; intrauterine devices; women's health; young adult