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Updated: May 20, 2026

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
Knowledge about various contraceptive methods in young women with and without eating disorders
Caitlin W Hicks1, Samantha DeMarsh, Harjoat Singh
1Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. romee@ccf.org
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.
Method:
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).
Discussion:
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.
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