Perception of oral contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Japan: a comparison with the USA and France.

AIM: In order to reveal the differences between oral contraceptives (OC) perceptions and actual needs, we performed a web-based study in the USA, France, and Japan.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The study was carried out using a web-based questionnaire in May 2009. Two hundred women each from the three countries who were in their 20s, 30s, or 40s were randomly selected and asked about contraception.

RESULTS

The most frequently used contraceptive method was OC in the USA and France and condoms in Japan. The most commonly used OC information source was doctors in the USA and France, but the media in Japan. The main reason for taking OC was 'contraception' in the USA and France, but it was relief from menstruation-related problems in Japan. Partner agreement was highest in France, and partner disagreement was highest in the USA. The most common reason for discontinuing OC use was 'contraception became unnecessary' in all three countries. The second most common reason was 'troublesome to take everyday' in the USA and France but 'troublesome to get a doctor's prescription' in Japan. The most common reason for never taking OC was also 'troublesome to get a doctor's prescription' in Japan. As a non-contraceptive benefit, 'relief of dysmenorrhea' was well known in all three countries; however, other non-contraceptive benefits were little known among Japanese.

CONCLUSIONS

There are several differences in the patterns of OC use in the three countries studied. Providers should know more about current OC usage patterns in order to improve the quality of care.