NZ women shunning IUDs

Low uptake of ‘fit and forget’ methods blamed for high rate of unplanned pregnancies

New Zealand women’s low uptake of long-lasting contraception is partly to blame for the country’s “shocking” rate of unplanned pregnancies, researchers say.

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (Larcs) — such as IUDs and other implants — are 22 times more effective than oral pills, research backed up by Family Planning clinicians revealed.

Researchers say a big part of that came down to human error but was not the only factor.

Oral pills stop women from ovulating but Larcs also kill the sperm and stop the egg from implanting, said senior lecturer of women’s health at the University of Otago Dr Helen Paterson.

Yet, Larcs are often the less favoured option, Paterson said.

Family Planning clinician Dr Christine Roke said the major reason for this was expense as hormonal IUDs were not government-funded and cost $340.

However, the non-hormonal IUD and the depo provera injection were free, apart from the cost of the appointment.

For many, accessing the pill or condoms is easier and usually the first methods offered by GPs, Roke said.

Other reasons why Larcs are less popular included horror stories women hear from their friends about IUDs becoming infected, falling out or hurting when the device was put in, but these risks were very low.

“We strongly recommend the ‘fit and forget’ method as the best form of contraception,” Roke said.

The University of Otago research followed a United States three-year study that tracked more than 7000 women — half using oral pills and the other half using Larcs.

The number of women who fell pregnant on oral pills was 22 times higher than the women on Larcs.

Paterson said New Zealand had the sixth highest rate of unplanned pregnancies among the 36 countries in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

“Our rate is shockingly high and that needed to change,” Paterson said.

The Growing Up in New Zealand study that started just over 10 years ago and has tracked 7000 Kiwi children revealed that nearly 40 per cent of pregnancies were unplanned.

This meant the chance to make behavioural changes, such as stopping drinking alcohol and smoking, and taking folic acid, were delayed for almost half of the mothers.

Paterson concluded that sexual education needed to be taken more seriously and a better understanding of Larcs was needed by patients and healthcare professionals.

“All Larcs should be funded and made more accessible. If we have the tools to significantly reduce unintended pregnancy, why not offer them?” she said.

For Holly Neilson-Mercer, it took eight months of bleeding to get her to opt for the non-hormonal IUD.

The Auckland mum-of-three said there was no way she could have afforded it but it ended up being her last option.

“I was lucky my GP called me and asked if I would be comfortable having a doctor who was training to do the insertion, do it with my GP overseeing it. My doctor said she would pay for it so I was like ‘heck yeah’,” the 28-year-old told the Herald.