To analyze trends in short-acting hormonal contraceptive use among premenopausal US females and assess differences by age, race and ethnicity, and specific hormonal formulations.
Approach:
Data Source: Utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles from 1999 to March 2020.
Population: Included premenopausal females aged 15 to younger than 60 years with no prior breast cancer diagnosis.
Data Collection: Extracted information on hormonal contraceptive use from prescription medication data collected during household interviews.
Classification: Short-acting hormonal contraceptives were classified as combined estrogen and progestin or progestin only.
Key Findings:
Current contraceptive use among US females aged 15 to 49 years remained stable at 64% in 2015 to 2017 and at 65% in 2017 to 2019.
Short-acting hormonal contraceptives are among the most commonly used methods in the US.
There is a trend towards greater adoption of long-acting reversible contraceptives, while use of combined estrogen-progestin oral contraceptive pills has modestly decreased.
Interpretation:
Understanding trends in hormonal contraceptive use can inform public health strategies and clinical practices.
Limitations:
Data primarily reflects short-acting contraceptive use; long-acting methods are not well captured in NHANES.
The study does not link specific hormonal contraceptive methods to assess differences among user subgroups.
Conclusion:
The study provides insights into the prevalence and trends of short-acting hormonal contraceptive use among premenopausal women in the US.
