ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between attitudes towards menstruation, health, and behavioral characteristics. METHODS: The 136 women who completed questionnaires varied in their sexual activity, sexual orientation, and use of hormonal contraception. RESULTS: Women's estimated cycle length was accurate when compared to observed cycle length (F (3,156) = .05; P = .98). Smokers had decreased durations of flow (P < .01). Depo-Provera users were less likely to view menstruation as natural compared to abstinent, sexually active heterosexuals or those using traditional oral contraception (F (5,141) = 2.43; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Hormonal contraception use, but not sexual orientation, was associated with attitudes about menstruation.
Subject(s)
Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal/administration & dosage , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Menstruation/psychology , Sexual Behavior/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Contraception Behavior/psychology , Female , Humans , Menstruation/physiology , Sexual Behavior/drug effects , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
Overall well-being, sleep and exercise patterns were investigated in women between the ages of 18 and 36 years with natural hormone profiles (n = 12), and women using oral contraceptives (n = 12) or Depo-Provera (n = 12) from January 18, 2005 to December 7, 2005. Daily questionnaires on the above variables were obtained across 3 menstrual cycles (108 cycles). Women using hormonal contraception reported more overall negative well-being than women with natural hormone profiles (p = .038). Positive well-being at mid-cycle was positively correlated with increased sleep by the natural hormone (p < .05) and oral contraception groups (p < .05) but not by the Depo-Provera group. Women with natural hormone profiles walked more when they reported decreased well-being. Our findings indicate that the use of Depo-Provera interferes with the natural relations between sleep, cycle phase and well-being.
