relation: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/22660/ title: Factors associated with discontinuation of hormonal contraceptives creator: Ly, Kathleen description: Family planning is considered one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and use of hormonal contraceptives has only increased since its invention in the 1960s. Yet there is a noticeable lack of research and discussion on how to encourage patients to continue their use of contraception. Discontinuation of contraception is an issue of public health significance, since it often leads to unintended pregnancies that are costly to the individual and public as a whole. This literature review examines the extant literature on rates of discontinuation of the following hormonal methods of contraception: oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, injectable contraceptives, vaginal rings, patches, and implant contraceptives. In addition, the review also examines demographic factors that have been associated with discontinuation, such as age, intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Based on the literature reviewed, it appears that the most common reason for discontinuation is side effects. While providers usually cannot mitigate side effects of hormonal contraceptives, as they are often unpredictable, other studies have shown that discussing these side effects and other concerns that patients may have about the contraceptive that they are beginning or are currently taking can increase continuation as well as compliance with their regimen. publisher: University of Pittsburgh date: 2014-08 type: Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper type: NonPeerReviewed format: application/msword language: en rights: attached identifier: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/22660/1/Ly_K_Master_Essay_2014.doc format: text/plain language: en rights: attached identifier: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/22660/3/licence.txt identifier: Ly, Kathleen (2014) Factors associated with discontinuation of hormonal contraceptives. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.