What information women want about intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants and where they want to receive this information: findings from an Australian online survey

Jacqueline Coombe; Ximena Camacho; Digsu N. Koye; Cassandra Caddy

doi:10.1071/SH25056

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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What information women want about intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants and where they want to receive this information: findings from an Australian online survey

Jacqueline Coombe

^A ^* , Ximena Camacho ^B ^C , Digsu N. Koye ^D ^C and Cassandra Caddy ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Sexual Health Unit, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

^B Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

^C Methods and Implementation Support for Clinical and Health (MISCH) research Hub, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

^D Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: jacqueline.coombe@unimelb.edu.au

Handling Editor: Julia Brotherton

Sexual Health 22, SH25056 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH25056

Submitted: 1 April 2025 Accepted: 9 July 2025 Published: 4 August 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Background

Information about contraceptive options is important for informed decision making. We aimed to understand the information needs and preferences of potential users of intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants, methods that are underutilised in Australia.

Methods

We conducted an online survey of Australian women aged 18–45 years. The survey comprised mostly close-ended questions, with a few opportunities for free-text comments.

Results

In total, 1745 women participated in the survey. Participants had a mean age of 31 years; most identified as heterosexual (67%) and said that they were in a relationship (71%). Overwhelmingly, participants said that the most important information they wanted to know prior to using a contraceptive implant or intrauterine device was potential side effects (97%), signs that something is wrong (91%), effectiveness (90%), cost (87%), how and where to access the method (82%) and the experiences of other people who have used the method (81%). Most participants said that they go to their healthcare provider for information about contraception (86%). However, 78% said they also turn to the internet, and 15% said they use social media. When asked to indicate their preferred source of contraceptive information, participants reported their healthcare provider (93%), the internet (65%), friends (42%) and social media (20%).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that those considering using contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices have clear information needs, and this information should be provided to consumers during contraceptive counselling by a healthcare provider. Although healthcare providers are a preferred and trusted source of information, participants also reported seeking information from the internet.

Keywords: contraception, contraceptive implant, health information, information needs, intrauterine device, long-acting reversible contraception, online survey, reproductive health, women, women’s health.

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