The study aimed to understand how education relates to contraceptive choice and how sexual function can vary concerning contraceptive methods.
We surveyed female medical students and women attending an FPS in Italy. Participants completed an online questionnaire that asked for information on sociodemographics, lifestyle, sexuality, and contraceptive use and included the FSFI.
Participants completed the questionnaire by 413 women (362 students and 51 women attending the FPS) between the ages of 18 and 30 years. FSFI scores revealed a lower risk of sexual dysfunction among women in the control group who did not use oral hormonal contraception. When subdivided by the primary contraceptive method used, the differences in FSFI total scores between the two study groups were statistically significant. Women using the vaginal ring had the lowest risk of sexual dysfunction than all other women and had a favorable sexual function profile. The highest FSFI domain scores were lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction, also among the control group. Expensive contraception, such as long-acting reversible contraception, was not preferred by this young population, even though such methods are more contemporary and manageable. Compared with controls, students had lower compliance with contraception and a negative attitude towards voluntary pregnancy termination.
Despite their scientific knowledge, Italian female medical students were found to need sexual and contraceptive assistance. A woman’s sexual function responds to her body’s awareness and varies concerning how she is guided in contraceptive choice. Contraceptive counseling is an excellent means to improve female sexuality.
Reference: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13625187.2019.1663500
