Accuracy of the Papanicolaou test in the detection of high-grade cervical lesions

Abstract

most commonly used method (62.7%) in the present study—with IUDs reported as the current/most recent form of contraception by only 16.7%. Thesefindings are supported by a recent study inwhich condoms were the most commonly used contraceptive method for women attending a family-planning clinic in Shanghai [3]. In total, 21.1% of women reported currently usingmore than 1method of contraception, 8.8% of whom reported using condoms in addition to another form. However, “current use”may not be the same as “simultaneous use,” so these findings should be interpreted with caution. Of note, the median number of abortions was 2, indicating the need for further research into the use of induced abortion as a familyplanningmethod in China. Traditionalmethods such aswithdrawal and rhythm were the second and third most commonly reported methods, respectively, which may indicate the need for more comprehensive family-planning education. The media was cited as the most common information source regarding contraception—ahead of doctors, nurses, and family-planning clinics; thus, evaluation of media messages may be warranted. Despite the biases associated with recruiting women from a gynecology outpatient clinic at a large tertiary-care hospital—where women are likely to havemore access to contraception than arewomen in other settings—the present study provided valuable information about the chosen methods of contraception in urban China.