Women's satisfaction with Norplant as compared with oral contraceptives

Women's satisfaction with their chosen method of contraception has seldom been evaluated, especially in the primary care setting. This study compared women who use Norplant with those who use oral contraceptives with regard to patient satisfaction with, and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of, their birth control method.

We sent questionnaires to 115 Norplant users and 148 oral contraceptive users. The questionnaire asked for demographic data; a rating of level of satisfaction with their contraceptive; whether they would choose their method again; whether they would recommend their contraceptive to a friend; and what they perceived as its advantages and disadvantages.

Sixty percent of responding Norplant users were satisfied with their method as compared with 72% of oral contraceptive users (P > .05). Sixty-three percent of Norplant users indicated that they would use their method again, compared with 88% of oral contraceptive users (P < .05). Seventy-four percent of Norplant users said they would recommend their method to a friend as compared with 97% of oral contraceptive users (P < .05). Oral contraceptive users reported significantly less menstrual bleeding and cramping than did Norplant users (P < .05), and Norplant users reported significantly more acne and bleeding irregularities (P < .05).

In our study, the majority of responding Norplant and oral contraceptive users were satisfied with their current method of contraception. However, Norplant users reported being less willing to use their method again or to recommend it to a friend, as compared with women using oral contraceptives. Norplant users noted more bleeding irregularities, more cramping, and increased acne.