| Summary: | Introduction
Contraception plays a pivotal role in most women’s lives, from teenage
years to the menopause. Contraception and sexual wellbeing are closely related. Ideally,
women should be able to access contraception and discuss issues concerning their
sexual life during a contraceptive counselling session. Previously, only doctors conducted
contraceptive consultations. Increasingly, other healthcare workers are providing
contraceptive care. The aim of this study is to explore women’s experiences and opinions
related to contraceptive counselling.
Methods
An electronic questionnaire was distributed in 2017–2018. The texts of 308
women’s written responses to open-ended questions were analyzed using systematic
text-condensation.
Results
The analysis resulted in four themes: 1) Women-centered care, 2) Side-effects
of hormonal contraceptives, 3) Non-hormonal methods and male involvement, and 4)
Counsellors’ professional background. Women wished for a consultation that would lead
to the best choice of contraception for them, taking into account their medical history,
personal preference and living circumstances. Side-effects of hormonal products were
under-communicated, as were non-hormonal methods. Respondents had contradicting
opinions about midwives as contraceptive counsellors and were unfamiliar with them in
this role.
Conclusions
The quality of contraceptive counselling in Norway needs to be improved.
Women require individualized follow-up, sufficient information and a choice of methods to
find the most suitable alternative for them. A good relationship with a health provider they
trust could improve contraceptive consultation. Midwives’ knowledge and competence in
this area need to be made more widely known.
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