Studying medicine – Does it influence the choice of contraceptive method?

Abstract

Introduction

Choosing a contraceptive method is an important aspect of sexual life. However, it can be a difficult decision due to insufficient knowledge about the physiology of the menstrual cycle and different methods of contraception. This raises the question of whether female medical students, who should have greater knowledge in this area, choose different contraceptive methods compared with non-medical students.

Aim

To examine contraceptive preferences in female students, and establish whether their field of study affects these preferences.

Materials and methods

This study included 414 female students: 189 from non-medical faculties, 122 from medical and dental faculties, and 103 from other medical faculties. The inclusion criteria for the study were: female gender; age ≥18 years; student status; informed consent to participate in the study; and completion of the questionnaire. Failure to meet any of the inclusion criteria resulted in exclusion from the study. Data were obtained through an anonymous survey created on the Google Forms platform, consisting of 16 questions. The questionnaire was distributed to potential female respondents via social media, and was open from 3 October 2023 to 3 December 2023.

Results

Barrier methods of contraception were used most commonly [264 respondents (63.78 %)], regardless of field of study, and the least commonly used method of contraception, chosen by only three respondents (0.72 %), was the hormone-free intrauterine device. When divided into three groups according to field of study, as in the survey, no significant correlation was found between field of study and preferred contraceptive method. However, when divided into two fields of study (combining medical and dental faculties with other medical faculties in one group), a significant correlation was found between field of study and the use of combined oral contraceptives containing oestrogens and progestins, which was more popular among medical students compared with non-medical students (33.3 % vs 24.3 %).

Conclusions

The influence of field of study on preferred contraceptive method is limited, possibly due to the fact that the majority of students, regardless of their field of study, obtain their knowledge about contraception from the internet – 48.9 % of medical students and 58.2 % of non-medical students. In comparison, 12.4 % of medical students but only 1.1 % of non-medical students reported obtaining their knowledge about contraception from lectures at university.