Trends in contraception use in Spanish adolescents and young adults (15 to 24 years) between 2002 and 2008.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in the use of contraceptive methods, and induced abortion rates, in Spanish adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 years, between 2002 and 2008. STUDY DESIGN: Representative samples of Spanish men and women aged 15 to 24 years were surveyed in 2002 (N = 1826) and 2008 (N = 2000). RESULTS: The rate of use of contraceptive methods increased from 61% in men and 60% in women in 2002 to 80% and 75%, respectively, in 2008. The most commonly used method was the condom (51% in 2002 and 71% in 2008), followed by the contraceptive pill (18% in 2002 and 18% in 2008). None of the adolescents and young adults surveyed used natural methods or the diaphragm, or had undergone sterilisation. The induced abortion rate increased from 9.28 to 13.48 per 1000 women in the group aged between 15 and 19 years, and from 14.37 to 21.05 per 1000 women in the group aged 20 to 24 years. CONCLUSION: Despite an increase in the use of effective birth control methods, the rates of abortion rose during the study period, which may indicate that compliance with the use of condoms is inadequate. There is an urgent need to develop educational campaigns or to design specific policies addressing contraception-related issues for young people.

Contraceptive practices of women requesting induced abortion in Spain: a cross-sectional multicentre study.

OBJECTIVES: To collect information on (i) contraceptive methods used immediately before unwanted pregnancy, and (ii) planned contraception following induced abortion among Spanish residents. METHODS: Eight centres officially accredited to perform abortions participated in a cross-sectional study. The study population included 2475 women requesting induced abortion between 1 January and 31 March 2007. RESULTS: Contraceptive methods used before unwanted pregnancy were condoms in 40% of the cases, combined hormonal contraception in 14%, and other methods (mainly natural methods and withdrawal) in 10%. Thirty-six percent of women did not use any contraceptive method. Failure of the method due to incorrect use was reported by 77% of those using condoms and by 84% of those using hormonal contraception. Only 23% of women planned to use a contraceptive method after abortion. Almost half of the women were immigrants. CONCLUSION: Despite the use of effective contraceptive methods, the majority of women requesting induced abortion in Spain became pregnant during the use of these methods. These data reflect a lack of compliance. More education programmes are needed to improve compliance rates. The long-acting reversible contraceptive methods could constitute an appropriate approach.

[Prevalence and determining factors of acquiring C. trachomatis infection among adolescents and young adults in Catalonia]. / Prevalencia de la infección por C. trachomatis y N. gonhorroeae y determinantes para su adquisición en jóvenes y adultos-jóvenes en Cataluña.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonhorroeae) infections and the risk factors for acquiring them in individuals under 35 years-old attending sexual health clinics in Barcelona province in 2006. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 500 adolescents and young adults aged between 16 and 35 years. A total of 423 samples were analysed using real-time PCR. A standardised questionnaire was used to collect clinical, epidemiological, and behavioural data on the participants. Significant differences were analysed in the descriptive study using Pearson's ((2). The association between C. trachomatis infection and its determining factors was analysed using the Mantel-Haenszel test and a multivariate logistic regression model. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of C. trachomatis was 4%, and was significantly higher in those under 25 years of age. The overall prevalence of N. gonhorroeae was 0.2%. The independent risk factors for infection by C. trachomatis were as follows: foreign origin (OR: 3.74; CI 95%: 1.10-12.72), having had a sexual partner in the last 3 months (OR 3.91; CI 95%: 1.30-11.81), and tobacco use the last 12 months (OR: 4.99; CI 95%: 1.34-18.59). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study performed in Catalonia that shows high prevalence of C. trachomatis in young people, thus confirming trends in the rest of Europe. Systematic monitoring of C. trachomatis infection in sentinel populations will provide valid information allowing us to assess the relevance of proposing targeted screening programs in our setting.

Attitudes of Spanish women toward premenstrual symptoms, premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: results of a nationwide survey.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the attitudes of women with premenstrual symptoms in relation to their perception of complaints and request for medical advice. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of a representative cohort of 2018 Spanish women aged 15-49 years. Participants were personally interviewed at home and completed the premenstrual symptoms screening tool. RESULTS: A total of 1554 women (73.7%) complained of some of the premenstrual symptoms during the last 12 menstrual cycles. The prevalence of moderate or severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) was 8.9% and the prevalence of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) 1.1%. Only 291 (18.7%) women had sought medical advice. The main reason given by 90.6% of symptomatic women for not seeking medical consultation was to consider that symptoms were normal. A total of 175 (60.1%) women received pharmacological treatment (hormonal contraceptives in 95% followed by analgesics in 50% and anti-inflammatory agents in 44%), 20% were not treated because physicians considered that symptoms were not important and would disappear spontaneously, and 12% received only advice to change life style. CONCLUSION: Women suffering from PMS or PMDD do not usually seek medical advice and among those seeking medical care, in many cases, an adequate response to their demands is not obtained.

Trends in the use of contraceptive methods and voluntary interruption of pregnancy in the Spanish population during 1997-2007.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to acquire information about the use of contraceptive methods in order to reduce the number of elective abortions. STUDY DESIGN: Since 1997, representative samples of Spanish women of childbearing potential (15-49 years) have been surveyed by the Daphne Team every 2 years to gather data of contraceptive methods used. RESULTS: During the study period, 1997 to 2007, the overall use of contraceptive methods increased from 49.1% to 79.9%. The most commonly used method was the condom (an increase from 21% to 38.8%), followed by the pill (an increase from 14.2% to 20.3%). Female sterilization and IUDs decreased slightly and were used by less than 5% of women in 2007. The elective abortion rate increased from 5.52 to 11.49 per 1000 women. CONCLUSIONS: The factors responsible for the increased rate of elective abortion need further investigation.

Prevalence of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder in a representative cohort of Spanish women of fertile age.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of premenstrual symptoms, premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder in a cohort of women of fertile age representative of the general Spanish population. STUDY DESIGN: During the period between November 27th and December 22nd, 2008, a cross-sectional nationwide survey was conducted among a cohort of Spanish women aged between 15 and 49 years. Participants were personally interviewed at home and completed the premenstrual symptoms screening tool. RESULTS: Of the 2108 participants, 1554 women (73.7%) complained of some of the premenstrual symptoms during the last 12 menstrual cycles. A total of 1415 (91%) women presented isolated symptoms and 139 (8.9%) a moderate/severe premenstrual syndrome. Twenty-four (1.1%) women fulfilled criteria for a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of premenstrual symptoms (73.7%) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (1.1%) in Spanish women aged between 15 and 49 years is similar to that reported in other Western countries. Only women with moderate or severe premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, however, had daily life activities significantly impaired by premenstrual symptoms.

Prevalencia de la infección por C. trachomatis y N. gonhorroeae y determinantes para su adquisición en jóvenes y adultos-jóvenes en Cataluña / Prevalence and determining factors of acquiring C. trachomatis infection among adolescents and young adults in Catalonia

Objetivo Determinar la prevalencia de Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) y Neisseria gonhorroeae (N. gonhorroeae) y los factores de riesgo para su adquisición en menores de 35 años, usuarios de centros de atención a la salud sexual de la provincia de Barcelona durante el año 2007.MètodosEstudio transversal de una muestra oportunista de 500 jóvenes y adultos-jóvenes de 16-35 años. Un total de 397 muestras endocervicales y 26 de orina fueron analizadas mediante PCR en tiempo real. Se utilizó un cuestionario estandarizado para recoger información clínica, epidemiológica y conductual. Se analizaron las diferencias significativas en el análisis descriptivo mediante Pearson's χ2 o Fisher's exact test. La asociación entre la infección por C. trachomatis y sus determinantes fueron examinados mediante el test Mantel-Haenszel y un modelo de regresión logística multivariante. Se calcularon las Odds ratio y los intervalos de confianza al 95%.ResultadosLa prevalencia global de C. trachomatis fue del 4%, significativamente más elevada en el grupo de menores de 25 años. La prevalencia de N. gonhorroeae fue del 0,2%. Los factores de riesgo independientes para la infección de C. trachomatis fueron: origen extranjero (OR: 3,74; IC 95%: 1,10-12,72), tener nueva pareja sexual < 3 meses (OR 3,91, IC 95%: 1,30-11,81) y el consumo de tabaco<12 meses (OR: 4,99, IC 95%: 1,34-18,59).Conclusiones Este es el primer estudio realizado en Cataluña, que muestra elevadas prevalencias de C. trachomatis en jóvenes, y que reafirma las tendencias encontradas en Europa. Sistematizar la monitorización de la infección por C. trachomatis en poblaciones centinela aportará información válida para valorar la pertinencia de proponer programas de cribado en nuestro entorno (AU)

Objective To determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonhorroeae) infections and the risk factors for acquiring them in individuals under 35 years-old attending sexual health clinics in Barcelona province in 2006.MethodsCross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 500 adolescents and young adults aged between 16 and 35 years. A total of 423 samples were analysed using real-time PCR. A standardised questionnaire was used to collect clinical, epidemiological, and behavioural data on the participants. Significant differences were analysed in the descriptive study using Pearson's (2. The association between C. trachomatis infection and its determining factors was analysed using the Mantel-Haenszel test and a multivariate logistic regression model. Results The overall prevalence of C. trachomatis was 4%, and was significantly higher in those under 25 years of age. The overall prevalence of N. gonhorroeae was 0.2%. The independent risk factors for infection by C. trachomatis were as follows: foreign origin (OR: 3.74; CI 95%: 1.10-12.72), having had a sexual partner in the last 3 months (OR 3.91; CI 95%: 1.30-11.81), and tobacco use the last 12 months (OR: 4.99; CI 95%: 1.34-18.59).Conclusions This is the first study performed in Catalonia that shows high prevalence of C. trachomatis in young people, thus confirming trends in the rest of Europe. Systematic monitoring of C. trachomatis infection in sentinel populations will provide valid information allowing us to assess the relevance of proposing targeted screening programs in our setting (AU)