Infecundity, late maternity and actual contraception: what means of contraception prefer women to postpone childbirth and not to become infertile?

Nina Rusanova, Russian Academy of Science

One of the actual characteristic of fertility in Russia after 1999 is increasing of fertility level for women elder 35. There is the period when physiological reproductive capabilities are reducing, that’s why infertility becomes one of the components of late maternity (35+). Women take care of their current and future reproductive health and use contraception from the very beginning of sexual life. Traditional point of view in Russia: they prefer easy cheap non-effective contraception and in case of unintended pregnancy choose artificial abortions, which later provoke infeсundity-II. Investigation: 2004-05, Scientific Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatalogy (RAMS, Moscow); respondents: 350 women 35+ with reproductive problems plus 30 women <35 with postponed birth problems; methods: questionnaires and individual diaries of monitoring. Contraception plays main role for postponing birth among reasons of late maternity. Women consider sexual partner as father of future child; require comfort of contraception (convenience, harmlessness for the couple, safety in sex, possibility to stop using) is more important than reliability. The most of potential parents are well-disposed to calendar contraception methods (rhythmical, biological, temperature etc). The main defect there – low reliability, and they try to select modern contraception, allowing to indicate days of real ovulation with the highest probability of fecundity (rather expensive for Russia monitors with test-strips, for example “Persona”). During these days the couple can choose: to refuse sexual contact or use barrier contraception if they not plan pregnancy, or seize the opportunity if the pregnancy is planning. Conclusion: in case of postponing childbirth up to 35 contraception choice is very serious; price, simplicity, reliability isn’t so important: in case of pregnancy women prefer delivery.