Research has found that Australian women are seeking more guidance from the internet than medical professionals when exploring contraceptive options and the potential risks.
UOW pre-medicine student Summer Leonard said there ws no study module that covers the affects of contraception on women, and it was often left to personal experience and research.
“It is such an important issue that affects so many women,” Miss Leonard said.
“We need to be educated on how to intervene earlier before it’s too late.”
A study conducted by Gynecology and Obstetrics found that women who took oral contraception were more likely to develop depressive symptoms than those who didn’t,
Contraceptive implant patient Hannah Wallis said she was terrified after she experienced a contraceptive rod snap in her arm.
Miss Wallis waited six hours in the emergency department for medical assistance and resorted to using the internet for guidance.
“She (the nurse) didn’t care about putting my mind at ease but just made me feel more confused and scared,” Miss Wallis said.
“She literally just told me that she was unsure herself and so just sent me home.”
Before the rod was inserted, no prior tests or analysis had been done on her pre-existing medical conditions and the possible dangers it could trigger.
“They simply just took me into the room, gave me a dose of anaesthesia, poked it in my arm and then sent me on my merry way,” Miss Wallis said.
“My sister was actually my biggest teacher, informing me on all the issues associated with the pill and the best alternatives to take.”
Ms Wallis’ experience is not isolated as a study conducted by the BCM Primary Care found a large proportion of young Australian women had expressed disappointment that their doctor did not fully discuss the potential side effects and made assumptions about the reasons for seeking contraception.
“It would have been nice to get some sympathy and reassurance from a medical professional,” Miss Wallis said.
“And to be encouraged rather than judged for my concern towards my health.”
Educational systems and medical professionals are being urged to provide more insightful and adequate information surrounding the different contraceptive alternatives and take proactive measures prior to prescription.
“I have only been informed on the severe harmful effects of contraceptive methods through personal experience, in which there was no prior warning,” Miss Leonard said.
“The most I learnt at school was how to put a condom on and that’s it.”