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Sexual life impact evaluation of different hormonal contraceptives on the basis of their methods of administration

  • Gynecologic Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare sexual satisfaction with the use of three types of hormonal contraceptives.

Methods

We have evaluated the sexological profile of 23 patients, treated with a subdermal hormonal contraceptive containing 68 mg etonogestrel. We have compared this profile to that of other two groups of previously studied patients: one consisting of 26 women treated with a vaginal ring releasing 120 µg/day of etonogestrel and 15 µg/day of ethinylestradiol (EE) and one consisting of 25 women treated with an oral contraceptive containing 20 µg of EE and 150 µg of desogestrel. A further group of 25 women, not in treatment with any type of hormonal contraceptive, has been studied as control group. The Interviewer Rating of Sexual Function (IRSF) has been completed by the patients at the beginning of the study and after cycles of 3 and 6 months of contraceptive usage.

Results

All three types of hormonal contraceptives have increased positive indicators of patients’ sexual life (sexual interest and fantasies, of orgasm number and intensity and satisfaction) and decreased negative ones (anxiousness, discomfort).

Conclusions

Subdermal contraception is slower than both intravaginal and oral hormonal contraceptives in giving these effects, but is more effective after a cycle of 6 months of usage.

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Conflict of interest

We declare that we have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Salerno, Largo Città di Ippocrate, Salerno, Italy

    Maurizio Guida, Francesca Cibarelli, Jacopo Troisi, Alessandra Gallo & Anna Rita Palumbo

  2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Naples, Italy

    Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo

Authors
  1. Maurizio Guida
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  2. Francesca Cibarelli
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  3. Jacopo Troisi
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  4. Alessandra Gallo
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  5. Anna Rita Palumbo
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  6. Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alessandra Gallo.

Additional information

All authors have contributed equally to this work.

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Cite this article

Guida, M., Cibarelli, F., Troisi, J. et al. Sexual life impact evaluation of different hormonal contraceptives on the basis of their methods of administration. Arch Gynecol Obstet 290, 1239–1247 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3323-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3323-4

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