Changes in Canadian contraceptive choices: results of a national survey on hormonal contraceptive use

Abstract Background Since the introduction of the birth control pill in 1960, Canadians have been offered a number of different options for hormonal contraceptives, yet oral contraceptives remain the most popular methods. Research from other countries indicates this may be shifting, but the last com...

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Main Authors: Allison J. Campbell, Victoria E. Claydon, Sarah Liva, Anita T. Cote
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Women's Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03597-3
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author Allison J. Campbell
Victoria E. Claydon
Sarah Liva
Anita T. Cote
author_facet Allison J. Campbell
Victoria E. Claydon
Sarah Liva
Anita T. Cote
author_sort Allison J. Campbell
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Since the introduction of the birth control pill in 1960, Canadians have been offered a number of different options for hormonal contraceptives, yet oral contraceptives remain the most popular methods. Research from other countries indicates this may be shifting, but the last comprehensive survey of Canadian hormonal contraceptive usage was published in 2009. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine current hormonal contraceptive usage among pre-menopausal Canadians. Methods An online survey was distributed to pre-menopausal females aged 19–49 years via a third-party survey company. The survey included questions on respondents’ demographics and current and past hormonal contraceptive use. Prevalence of current hormonal contraceptive use was calculated by age. Chi-squared tests were conducted to determine whether there was an association between contraceptive choice and various demographic categories. Results Responses of 2306 female Canadians (age 33.4 ± 8.1 years) were analyzed and 29% of these respondents were currently using hormonal contraceptives. The most common choices were oral contraceptives (56.4%) and intrauterine device (IUD) (28.4%). Over 30% of hormonal contraceptive users were currently using a long-acting reversible contraceptive method. Conclusions These findings demonstrate a change in hormonal contraception use, notably an increase in the use of hormonal IUDs from 4 to 28% among Canadian hormonal contraceptive users over the last 15 years. This study also shows a high prevalence of alternative contraceptive options that may influence hormone levels differently than oral forms.
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spelling doaj-art-0afcdeb18e1045d5b547bbd35ab47b1e2025-08-20T02:10:21ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742025-03-0125111010.1186/s12905-025-03597-3Changes in Canadian contraceptive choices: results of a national survey on hormonal contraceptive useAllison J. Campbell0Victoria E. Claydon1Sarah Liva2Anita T. Cote3Integrative Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory, School of Human Kinetics, Trinity Western UniversityCardiovascular Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser UniversitySchool of Nursing, Trinity Western UniversityIntegrative Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory, School of Human Kinetics, Trinity Western UniversityAbstract Background Since the introduction of the birth control pill in 1960, Canadians have been offered a number of different options for hormonal contraceptives, yet oral contraceptives remain the most popular methods. Research from other countries indicates this may be shifting, but the last comprehensive survey of Canadian hormonal contraceptive usage was published in 2009. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine current hormonal contraceptive usage among pre-menopausal Canadians. Methods An online survey was distributed to pre-menopausal females aged 19–49 years via a third-party survey company. The survey included questions on respondents’ demographics and current and past hormonal contraceptive use. Prevalence of current hormonal contraceptive use was calculated by age. Chi-squared tests were conducted to determine whether there was an association between contraceptive choice and various demographic categories. Results Responses of 2306 female Canadians (age 33.4 ± 8.1 years) were analyzed and 29% of these respondents were currently using hormonal contraceptives. The most common choices were oral contraceptives (56.4%) and intrauterine device (IUD) (28.4%). Over 30% of hormonal contraceptive users were currently using a long-acting reversible contraceptive method. Conclusions These findings demonstrate a change in hormonal contraception use, notably an increase in the use of hormonal IUDs from 4 to 28% among Canadian hormonal contraceptive users over the last 15 years. This study also shows a high prevalence of alternative contraceptive options that may influence hormone levels differently than oral forms.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03597-3ContraceptionSurveyCanadian womenHormonal contraceptives
spellingShingle Allison J. Campbell
Victoria E. Claydon
Sarah Liva
Anita T. Cote
Changes in Canadian contraceptive choices: results of a national survey on hormonal contraceptive use
BMC Women's Health
Contraception
Survey
Canadian women
Hormonal contraceptives
title Changes in Canadian contraceptive choices: results of a national survey on hormonal contraceptive use
title_full Changes in Canadian contraceptive choices: results of a national survey on hormonal contraceptive use
title_fullStr Changes in Canadian contraceptive choices: results of a national survey on hormonal contraceptive use
title_full_unstemmed Changes in Canadian contraceptive choices: results of a national survey on hormonal contraceptive use
title_short Changes in Canadian contraceptive choices: results of a national survey on hormonal contraceptive use
title_sort changes in canadian contraceptive choices results of a national survey on hormonal contraceptive use
topic Contraception
Survey
Canadian women
Hormonal contraceptives
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-025-03597-3
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AT sarahliva changesincanadiancontraceptivechoicesresultsofanationalsurveyonhormonalcontraceptiveuse
AT anitatcote changesincanadiancontraceptivechoicesresultsofanationalsurveyonhormonalcontraceptiveuse