TDNet Discover

Background: The use of contraception helps prevent unintended pregnancies, lowers the number of pregnancy-related deaths, reduces the need for unsafe abortions, and decreases transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from mothers to newborns.1 Many benefits come from contraceptive use, which often leads to a neglected area of research on the way hormonal contraceptives affect women’s sexual experiences and libido. The varying effects on sexual functioning and the patient’s sexual practices can influence what contraceptive is chosen.3 Purpose: This research aimed to investigate how different forms of hormonal contraception in reproductive-aged women affect libido and sexual experiences to better aid in suitable contraceptive selection. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was created and employed across multiple social media platforms to evaluate and analyze how the different forms of hormonal contraception affect libido and sexual experiences in reproductive-aged women aged 15-49, compared to women who use non-hormonal contraception or no contraception. The survey encompassed self-reported data containing demographics, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), and partner and relationship-specific questions. Secondary outcomes were to determine the relationship between FSFI outcomes and the level of physical or emotional attraction to their partner. An independent statistician utilized Intellectus software to analyze the collected data. Results: Of the 782 women who attempted the survey, a total of 589 women were included in the final sample used for data analysis. The results indicated that the effect of contraceptive type on women’s sexual desire (p = .324), arousal (p = .389), orgasm (p = .153), satisfaction (p = .425), and pain experienced during sexual encounters (p = .158) was not statistically significant. Still, the effect of contraceptive type on lubrication was statistically significant (p = .002). v Additionally, the primary type of contraceptive used when compared to women’s sexual desire (p = .187), arousal (p = .235), orgasm (p = .418), and satisfaction (p = .375) were not statistically significant, but the effect of the primary type of contraceptive used on pain experienced (p = .028) and lubrication (p = .002) during sexual encounters were statistically significant. The correlation between FSFI scale scores and physical and emotional attraction to the participant’s partners suggested a significant relationship (p <.001). Furthermore, results indicated that women’s satisfaction based on physical (p = .001) and emotional (p < .001) attraction levels to their partner have a significant relationship. Women’s arousal, when compared to physical attraction (p <.001) to their partner, was substantial, but no relationship was found between arousal and emotional attraction (p = .080). Additionally, women’s lubrication, when compared to the physical attraction (p = .039) to their partner, was significant, but no relationship was found between lubrication when compared to the emotional attraction (p = .933). Finally, women’s orgasms, when compared to the physical attraction (p = .006) to their partner, were significant, but no relationship was found between orgasms when compared to the emotional attraction (p = .265). Conclusion: The study suggests that the type of contraceptive method, hormonal, non-hormonal, or none, does not impact women’s desire, arousal, orgasm, satisfaction, or pain. However, the type of contraceptive method does have a significant impact on women’s lubrication. Furthermore, the type of primary contraceptive method used does not impact women’s desire, arousal, orgasm, or satisfaction during sexual encounters but does impact women’s pain experienced and lubrication. Additionally, there were significant differences in women’s arousal, lubrication, pain, orgasm, and satisfaction based on physical attraction level to their partner.