ABSTRACT
PIP: 1025 case records from private Parisian gynecologists and 1166 from hospital gynecology clinics were compared with respect to expressed motives for consulting, previous abortions, desire for contraception, consequences of curettage and effect of contraception on sexuality. 86% of hospital clients asked for contraception during their first visit, probably because they had to choose the appropriate clinic. Only 35.8% of private patients mentioned contraception, while 41.7% requested gynecologic care first, and 15.8% contraception first, probably reflecting the habit of higher classes to seek yearly check-ups. 26% of the private and 15% of the hospital patients admitted having induced abortions. These were figures probably underestimated in the hospital group. The percentage distribution by number of abortions was similar in both groups. The number of women who had had 1 or more abortions and subsequently did not use contraception was much higher (78) in the private than (4) in the hospital population. The authors interpreted this as due to conservative moral values in spite of better contraceptive knowledge in the privileged group. Increasing numbers or abortions, up to 3 prior abortions, increased the likelihood of asking for contraception, but the number of requests decreased as prior abortions increased from 4 to 8 or more. When the abortion (then illegal in France) was followed by dilatation and curettage in a hospital, 54% of private, but 26.5% of hospital patients then requested contraception. On the other hand, 51 and 10.5% of private and hospital patients requested contraception after an abortion that was not followed by curettage. 6 private patients reported their orgasmic performance improved after contraception, while 6 reported it diminished. Implications of this preliminary study for further research were listed.^ieng
