Patterns of contraceptive use before and after an abortion: results from a nationally representative survey of women undergoing an abortion in France

Abstract

Background Using a large national survey of women undergoing an abortion in France, we explore their contraceptive use surrounding an abortion. Study design The study comprised a representative sample of 7,541 women undergoing an abortion in 2007. We compared their use of contraception before and after the abortion and examined the factors associated with the prescription of a very effective method (IUD, hormonal methods) after the procedure. Results Sixty-six percent of women were using contraception in the month they conceived. A third of women reported the same use of contraception before and after the abortion, 54% were prescribed a more effective method while 14% changed to less effective or no method at all. After the abortion, 77% of women were prescribed a very effective contraceptive. Conclusions Abortion offers an opportunity to improve contraceptive uptake and a chance for providers to adjust their prescriptions according to the difficulties women experience in their use of contraceptives.

Access to Contraceptives in Countries With Restrictive Abortion Laws: The Case of Brazil

“…This result is consistent several studies demonstrating the women's trend to use effective methods after the occurrence of an abortion (Madden et al, 2011; Moreau et al, 2010). But the type of contraceptives used by Brazilian women with an abortion varies from those reported elsewhere: they use the pill less – and no LARC methods at all – compared to women without an abortion.…”

“…In France, 54% of women undergoing induced abortion switched to a more effective method (Moreau et al, 2010). At a clinical setting in the United States, women offered immediate postabortion contraception were more likely to choose a long acting reversible method (LARC), such as the IUD and implant, than women without a recent abortion history (Madden et al, 2011) Results from intervention studies also show that family planning services offered for postabortion women can have positive effects on LARC use (Schunmann e Glasier, 2006; Ceylan et al 2009; Nobili et al, 2007).…”

Sociodemographic, sexual, reproductive and relationship characteristics of adolescents having an abortion in Portugal: a homogeneous or a heterogeneous group?

“…Moreover, our findings highlight that interventions to prevent unplanned pregnancy should be sensitive to the heterogeneity of adolescents' life contexts and, depending on their age, prioritise different contexts of intervention, such as school and community. Finally, through medical appointments for the abortion procedure and post-abortion follow-up, health care providers have the opportunity to understand adolescents' knowledge about contraception, how they use it, their previous experiences and difficulties (Moreau, Trussell, Desfreres, & Bajos, 2010), as well as their relational context, and to promote informed contraceptive choices in the light of the adolescents'…”

Termination of pregnancy for maternal medical indications: Failings in delivery of contraceptive advice?

“…14 This gap in education and understanding in both the patient and the health care provider needs addressing. 15 The provision of contraception to women with psychiatric disease can be challenging both in logistical and ethical terms. 16 One report found more than 50% of those given contraceptives were having them administered without consent.…”