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The use of condoms together with
other forms of contraception (dual-method use) reduces the risk of pregnancy
and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Researchers conducted a prospective
year-long study of 1,194 sexually active women aged 15–24 years who were
clients at Planned Parenthood clinics and who were beginning contraceptive
pills, patches, injections, or vaginal rings and not planning pregnancy within
the year. They collected data on the participants’ beliefs about condom use,
and knowledge of their partners’ beliefs about condom use.
At baseline, 36 percent of the
subjects used condoms consistently, but condom use decreased by 27 percent
three months later. Some women stopped using hormonal contraception, and more
than half of the women did not return to condom use after they stopped other
forms of contraception. Rachel Goldstein, MD, of Stanford University School of
Medicine and lead author of the study, noted that the single largest predictor
of using condoms and other contraception is the attitude of the partner toward
condoms. Women whose partners thought condoms were very important and those who
did not know how their partner felt about condom use were more likely to continue
the dual methods than those whose partners thought condoms were not important.
Goldstein suggests that it may be
more useful to advise young women to use longer-acting reversible
contraceptives, including IUDs or implants, and about the importance of condoms
to prevent STIs as lapses in hormonal contraceptives may lead to unplanned
pregnancy. The study concluded that more counseling and greater attention
needed to be given to method continuation and contingency planning and the role
of the partner in family planning.
The study titled, “With Pills,
Patches, Rings, and Shots: Who Still Uses Condoms? A Longitudinal Cohort
Study,” was published online in the Journal of Adolescent Health, 2012; DOI:
10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.08.001
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit:
http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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