43% of women find taking the pill a burden while on vacation

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 10 Jul 2005 - 16:00 PDT

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A new survey shows that nearly 43% of Pill users in their twenties find having to remember to take the Pill a burden on holiday. And overall, one in five Pill users say they have missed pills on holidays, with one quarter of women saying this negatively impacted their holiday, and 14 % of those women having to visit a doctor as a result.

The survey carried out by TNS-EMNID[1] asked 794 women about their use and experience of contraception on holiday [2]. Nearly all Pill users who had gone on holiday with their partner said they had to think about their contraception during their holiday compared to around one in ten women using other methods.

Stomach upsets affected 29% of Pill users in their twenties, and one in five Pill users overall [3]. And over one-third of these women reported that they did not have sex subsequently specifically because of concerns about the risk of possible pregnancy. In addition, 16% of Pill users reported bothersome side effects including bleeding disturbances during their holiday and 4% of Pill users said they had forgotten to take the Pill or mislaid it en route in lost baggage.

The survey also highlighted that romance is a key part of the holiday experience -with just under half - 40% - of Pill users going away with their partner reported having more sex during the holiday than at home.

Monique op ten Berg, physician Organon Netherlands: "It is important for women to think about their contraceptive needs ahead of their holiday - the last thing they need is to let concerns about contraception take the romance out of the holiday. Any contraceptive needs to be used properly to work - and with women's routine disrupted, pill users need to be particularly careful to remember they use it as directed."

Alternatively, women could think about one of the new non-daily but self administered contraceptive options now available such as the once-a-month vaginal ring contraceptive. This low-hassle discreet option not only means they don't have to think about contraception daily while they are away but its reliability is not affected by stomach upsets.

About Organon

Organon - with shared head offices in Roseland, NJ, USA and Oss, The Netherlands - creates, manufactures and markets prescription medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of independent growth and business partnerships, Organon strives to remain or become one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in each of its core therapeutic fields: reproductive medicine, psychiatry and anesthesia. Organon products are sold in over 100 countries, of which more than 60 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human health care business unit of Akzo Nobel.

For media inquiries
Mrs. Monique Mols

1. TNS-EMNID is the German partner of TNS, the third largest marketing information group in the world. TNS-EMNID and her partners provide national and international organizations with market information and analysis, insight and advice in more than 110 countries worldwide. With a dedicated team of experienced and creative marketing information specialists, TNS-EMNID offers high standard marketing solutions for profit and non-profit organizations in the consumer and business-to-business sector. You can find more information on www.tns-emnid.com. TNS is a trademark of Taylor Nelson Sofres plc.

2. The 'Summer Loving ' survey asked 794 German women aged up to the age of 45 about their experience with contraception during their holiday. The telephone survey was undertaken by TNS-NIPO in April 2005 on behalf of Organon.

3. Stomach upsets / vomiting can impact the reliability of the Pill. Women who experience vomiting while taking the pill must abstain from sex for the next seven days or use additional contraceptive precautions such as a condom. However women should always refer to the package insert supplied with their Pill for full instructions. Vomiting does not affect the reliability of NuvaRing, and no additional precautions are needed.

http://www.organon.com