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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on December 17, 2004
Human Reproduction 2005 20(4):1100-1106; doi:10.1093/humrep/deh686
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© The Author 2004. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved.

Effects of two types of hormonal contraception—oral versus intravaginal—on the sexual life of women and their partners

Maurizio Guida, Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo1, Silvia Bramante, Stefania Sparice, Giuseppe Acunzo, Giovanni Antonio Tommaselli, Costantino Di Carlo, Massimiliano Pellicano, Elena Greco and Carmine Nappi

Dipartimento di Ostetricia, Ginecologia e Fisiopatologia della Riproduzione Umana, Università di Napoli ‘Federico II’, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Napoli, Italia

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: cdispie{at}tin.it

BACKGROUND: Data relating to the influence of hormonal contraception on sexual life are conflicting and mostly they refer to oral contraceptives. In this randomized, controlled, prospective study we compared the effect of an intravaginal hormonal contraceptive with the effect of a combined oral contraceptive on sexual function. METHODS: Fifty-one healthy women with a permanent partner and an active sexual life were randomly divided in two groups according to a computer-generated randomization list: 26 women (group A) used an intravaginal contraceptive releasing 120 µg/day of etonogestrel and 15 µg/day of ethinylestradiol (EE) and 25 women (group B) used an oral contraceptive containing 20 µg di EE and 150 µg of desogestrel. Twenty-five women participated in the study as control group (group C). A specific questionnaire was completed by the patients and their partners at the start of the study and after cycles 3 and 6 of contraceptive use. RESULTS: Within 3 months of contraceptive use, women from both groups A and B reported a global improvement in sexual function. A statistically significant increase in sexual fantasy was reported only by patients of group A. Whereas partners of the women in both groups A and B reported an improvement in sexual function after 3 months of contraceptive intake, only patients' partners of group A reported a significant increase in sexual interest, complicity and sexual fantasy. CONCLUSIONS: Both hormonal contraceptives tested were seen to have a positive effect on some aspects of sexual function. The intravaginal contraceptive ring seems to exert a further positive effect on the psychological aspect of both women and their partners, which is evident from an improved complicity and sexual satisfaction.

Key words: intravaginal hormonal contraceptive/oral hormonal contraceptive/partners/sex life


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