Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31660946›Full record

ArticleBMC women's health2019

The myth of menstruation: how menstrual regulation and suppression impact contraceptive choice.

Andrea L DeMaria, Beth Sundstrom, Stephanie Meier, Abigail Wiseley

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC women's health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.8field-weighted citation impact, top 15% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 29 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Contraception and Amenorrhea: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study on Acceptability in Filipino/Filipino-American Women.Journal of transcultural nursing : official journal of the Transcultural Nursing Society · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Healthy, safe and responsible: the modern female traveller.Tropical diseases, travel medicine and vaccines · 2021
    Review
  11. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Andrea L DeMariaDepartment of Public Health, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, 812 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA. ademaria@purdue.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-5450-0444
Beth SundstromDepartment of Communication, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, USA.
Stephanie MeierDivision of Consumer Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Abigail WiseleyCollege of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
College of Charleston · USMedical University of South Carolina · USPurdue University West Lafayette · USState Street (United States) · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWomen in the US have access to various hormonal contraceptive methods that can regulate menstruation. This study examined the attitudes and perceptions of reproductive-aged women toward contraceptive methods, including how menstrual regulation and suppression preferences influenced contraceptive choice.

methodsData collection used a mixed-methods approach, including 6 focus groups (n = 61), individual interviews (n = 18), and a web-based survey (n = 547).

resultsParticipants described contraceptive method preferences that allowed monthly bleeding and daily control, expressing concerns about long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) because of decreased user involvement. Some participants noted LARC improved their menstrual control. Many participants felt menstruation was healthy, whereas suppression was abnormal and resulted in negative health outcomes. Though participants indicated LARC as beneficial (M = 4.99 ± 1.66), convenient (M = 5.43 ± 1.68), and healthy (M = 4.62 ± 1.69), they chose combined oral contraceptives due to convenience.

conclusionsFindings suggest women need more information about menstrual regulation and suppression before selecting a contraceptive method, specifically in relation to LARC versus combined oral contraception. Framing menstrual suppression as healthy and natural may improve perceptions of long-term health consequences related to LARC. Providers should discuss menstrual suppression safety to ensure selection of contraceptive options aligning with women's preferences and needs.

Indexed as

Attitude to HealthAdultContraceptionContraceptive Agents, FemaleContraceptives, Oral, CombinedFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMenstruationPatient Acceptance of Health CareSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultContraceptive Agents, FemaleContraceptives, Oral, CombinedContraceptive decision-makingLARCMenstruationMixed-methods

Identifiers

PMID31660946
PMCPMC6816209
OpenAlexW2981891306

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.