Family planning services should provide women and men with information on contraceptive methods. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary contraceptive counseling lectures related to the efficacy and individual choices of contraceptive methods. Sociodemographic variables, preferred methods and opinion about the efficacy of contraceptive methods of 101 participants were analyzed. After the lecture, a lower percentage of men declared that they did not know which contraceptive method was more efficacious (24.3% versus 0.0%; p=0.006). Also, a lower percentage of women (12.7% versus 1.8%; p=0.020) and men (25.5% versus 7.7%; p=0.003) reported that they did not know which contraceptive method was less efficacious. Number of children increased the likelihood of choosing an irreversible method in a 30.87-fold (95%CI, 5.503 to 173.168, p<0.001). The choice of irreversible methods did not change after the counseling lecture (p>0.05). The lecture impacted on participants’ opinions about the efficacy of contraceptive methods, making them have more informed choices. However, it did not influence their choice of contraception. Number of children was the most determining factor in choosing irreversible methods.

| Introduction: Vulvovaginal candidiasisoccurs in about 75% of all women during reproductive age, and around half of those will have at least one recurrent episode. Objectives: To evaluate the occurrence of Candida species in the genital tract of women attending a clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University Hospital for gynecological interventions, related to signs and symptoms of infection and also to evaluate the susceptibility to antifungal agents of the Candida isolates. Methods and materials: Samples of vaginal secretions were taken of 128 women during gynecological and colposcopic examination, through sterile swab, to carry out culture for fungi. Susceptibility tests were performed for fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, nystatin and amphotericin B. Results: Twenty (15.6%) patients had positive culture for yeasts identified as: C. albicans (57.1%), C. glabrata (19%), C. parapsilosis complex (4.8%), C. lipolytica (4.8%), Trichosporon sp (9.5%), and Rhodotorula sp (4.8%). Ninety women (70.3%) reported no symptoms and 38 (29.6%) were symptomatic. The most frequent complaints were: discharge, vulval itching, and dyspareunia. All isolates were susceptible to the antifungal agents tested, except for some isolates of C. parapsilosis complex, which showed in vitro resistance to itraconazole. Conclusions: Although Candida species were isolated in only some of the women, C. albicans was the most common species. The more frequent complaints were discharge and vulvar itching. Most of the isolates were susceptible to the antifungals tested.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary contraceptive counseling lectures related to the efficacy and individual choices of contraceptive methods. Methods: Sociodemographic variables, preferred methods, opinion about the efficacy of contraceptive methods, and the level of interference of the lecture on the contraceptive choice of 101 participants were analyzed. Results: Female participants primarily chose tubal ligation as a contraceptive option (p=0.55), whereas male participants opted for vasectomy. After the lecture, a lower percentage of men declared that they did not know which method was more efficacious (24.3% versus 0.0%; p=0.006). Also, a lower percentage of women (12.7% versus 1.8%; p=0.020) and men (25.5% versus 7.7%; p=0.003) reported that they did not know which method was less efficacious. Number of children increased the likelihood of choosing an irreversible method in a 30.87-fold (95% CI, 5.503 to 173.168, p<0.001). Conclusion: The lecture impacted on participants' opinions about the efficacy of contraceptive methods, making them have more informed choices. However, it did not influence their choice of contraception. Number of children was the most determining factor in choosing irreversible methods. Practice implications: Family planning programs should rethink lecture-based, in-service educational approaches if their aim is to foster the conscious practice of sexuality.