IUD is an Effective, Underutilized Contraceptive Device

Around the globe, there are several methods for men and women to pick in order to prevent unintended pregnancy. From condoms (both male and female) to intrauterine contraceptives to birth control pills, men and women alike have their choice on whether they want to worry about birth control on a daily, monthly, quarterly or even yearly basis. A recent study emerging from Europe that focused on long-acting contraceptives such as IUDs showed that approximately 10% of European women utilized this type of contraceptive and that most were over the age of 30. This study was recently awarded the National Congress of Gynecology award.

Sergio Haimovich, the author of the study and a researcher at the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain states, “Long-acting contraceptives (the IUD, contraceptive injection or contraceptive implant) are still not widely used.” Condoms are the most widely used choice of contraceptive, with birth control pills coming in second amongst European women. In terms of long-term birth control options, intrauterine contraceptives like IUDs are the most popular. Over 11,000 women participated in the study that spanned 14 countries in Europe. Of these participants, nearly 10% of the women utilized the long-lasting methods.

Haimovich states that these longer-term methods are used by “women over the age of 30 who do not want more children and who are looking for a long-term solution." In contrast, younger girls decide to use alternate methods. Hamovich’s research was done as a subset of a larger study that researched the various contraceptive methods chosen by women in Europe. Haimovich goes on to explain that this type of research is necessary and that “the answers to these questions can help us to formulate contraceptive advice that is better adapted to the needs of the users."

The data from the study displays each country’s preferred method of contraception. For example, in Spain, the condom reigns triumphant amongst all age ranges. However, the study also shows that different hormonal birth control methods including the birth control pill are being utilized more frequently. These results “help to explain what users want and enable a more appropriate contraceptive check to be created," states Haimovich. "That is why we must always adapt our discourse to the demands of the users, and work such as this makes us aware of these requirements."