Gebruik van oral anticonceptiva in de jaren 1994-2002: wel anders, niet minder.

Objective. To describe the use of contraceptives among women aged I0-59, particularly in relation to the type of oral contraceptives (OCs) among starting users and women already using OCs. Design. Descriptive. Method. Data on the use of medication in the period 1994-2002 by women in the age range I0-59 years were selected from the Interaction Database ofNorth and East Netherlands. The study population was 33,795 women in I994 and I02,894 in 2002. Cross-sectional studies were performed of prevalent and incident OC users per year and the contribution of the various types ofOC was measured. Results. The use of contraceptives among women aged I0-59 years has remained fairly constant since I994, being about 33%. However, Dutch women started using OCs at an increasingly younger age: 47% of the I5-I9-year-olds in 2002 compared with 35% in I994. The use of third-generation OCs among young starting OC-users (I0-I9 years of age) in 2002 was very low (3.5% of all OCs). Among women who already used OCs, the switch from third- to second-generation OCs was less pronounced. In 2002, 23% of all OC-users used third-generation preparations compared with 46.5% in I994. The proportion using cyproteron-ethinylestradiol increased slightly over the years. Conclusion. After I994, mainly second-generation OCs have been prescribed. The switch from third- to second-generation OCs was especially marked among the young starting users. The use ofcyproteron-ethinyl-estradiol increased slightly during the years.