UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCES OF ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVE USE

A substantial proportion of women who commence oral contraceptives dis continue usage due to unwanted side-effects. In investigations of side -effects in current users, such women are excluded, and hence such stu dies will tend to underestimate the prevalence of side-effects. One hu ndred and forty-five female university students (both former and curre nt users) completed a questionnaire focusing on their experiences of t he impact of oral contraceptives upon their psychological and physical well-being. Although, on average, over half the women reported no eff ect, the vast majority of those who did report a change in well-being deemed this to be negative. The only exception was pelvic pain which w as reported to be improved by oral contraceptive use.