Artikel
Contraceptive practice in patients with rheumatic disease from three European countries does not differ significantly from healthy controls
Suche in Medline nach
Autoren
-
Monika Østensen
- University Hospital of Trondheim, National Center of Pregnancy and Rheumatic Disease, Farsund, Norwegen
-
Andrea Pluma
- Rheumatology Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Rheumatologie, Barcelona, Spain
-
Mihaela Micu
- Rehabilitation Hospital, Rheumatologie, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
-
Toni Julia
- Vall d'Hebron Research institute, Statistics, Barcelona, Spain
-
Frauke Förger
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
-
Sara Marsal
- Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Rheumatologie, Barcelona, Spain
| Veröffentlicht: | 8. Oktober 2019 |
|---|
Gliederung
Text
Background: Birth control is crucial in preventing unplanned and ill-timed pregnancy in patients with rheumatic diseases. The study analyzed contraceptive practice in women and men with rheumatic disease from three European countries and compared them with healthy controls.
Methods: A questionnaire-based study investigated the actual contraceptive practices in patients of reproductive age from three European countries Spain, Romania and Switzerland and compared them to age-matched healthy women and men. Associations between patient characteristics and contraception behaviour were analyzed by association analysis.
Results: Patients with rheumatic disease used contraception less often than healthy women and men, though the difference was not significant. The main reason for not using contraception was lack of partner or the wish to become pregnant. Current use of contraception was predominantly to limit family size in general or at this stage of life. Both patients and controls preferred barrier methods followed by hormonal contraceptives. Treatment with teratogenic drugs was no major patient concern, and thirteen of 30 female patients using methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil or leflunomide did not practice birth control.
The need for contraception relates to sexual activity. Significant less frequency of sexual intercourse was reported by patients with rheumatic disease than by controls (p=0.0066). Characteristics associated with less use of contraception in patients was living single, having no children, and for being religious, wheras gender and education had no influence.
Conclusion: Patients used contraception less frequently than healthy individuals and preferred methods that in case of active disease or therapy with teratogenic drugs are less reliable to prevent pregnancy. Contraception counseling should be an integral part of counseling patients of fertile age.
