The birth control project: A longitudinal assessment of the determinants of method choice, method discontinuation and the impact of hormonal contraception on women's sexual function

The Birth Control Project evaluated the reproductive and sexual health behaviors of women initiating a new contraceptive method in one of sixteen Title X family planning clinics located in Montana. Data presented in this dissertation reflect two manuscripts: one assessed the lifetime history of women's use of in-home pregnancy tests, the other explored how sexual functioning in the past four weeks informed contraceptive method choice. The sample included the first 100 participants enrolled in the longitudinal study. Women were eligible if they were between the ages of 14-45, were starting a new contraceptive method and had not used any hormonal contraception in the past six to nine months. In addition, a comparison group of women who were currently using or initiating a non-hormonal method was also recruited. Results from manuscript one reported that most participants (69%) used an in-home pregnancy test at least once during their lifetime. Amongst those who had ever used a pregnancy test, an average of 5.17 pregnancy tests (median=4) were used at home. Manuscript two outlined that self-reported sexual function experiences in the past four weeks did not appear to inform the contraceptive method initiated by women. Acquiring an increased understanding of factors that influence women's contraceptive decisions are important for the continued promotion of planned and timed pregnancies.