Background: There is an overall increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and maternal morbidity in patients with most autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD); outcomes are generally improved when the pregnancy is planned and the disease is in control.
Objective: The objective of the present study was to describe the sexual and reproductive health characteristics and contraceptive use of Mexican women in childbearing age with ARD.
Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study. All non-pregnant childbearing age women with an ARD were invited to participate. A self-administered questionnaire of ten items that included questions about sexuality, use of contraceptive methods, pregnancy desire, and contraceptional counseling was applied.
Results: A total of 135 women were evaluated. The median age was 33 (25-39) years. Contraceptive use was referred by 49 (71%) of the patients that had sexual activity the last month, while 20 (28.9%) patients denied use. From the patients who had initiated sexual activity (N = 112), 41 (36.6%) did not use any contraceptive method, and 16 (14%) used a method classified as ineffective. The question about contraceptive counseling was answered by 112 patients. Eighty (70.4%) said they had received counseling from health-professional and 64 (57.1%) from their rheumatologist. A total of 57% of the women with teratogenic drugs did not employ a contraception method.
Conclusion: Contraceptive use and reproductive health counseling are suboptimal in Mexican women with ARD. A high proportion of women taking teratogenic drugs did not employ a highly effective contraceptive method. Strategies to improve reproductive and sexual health are necessary.
Keywords: Contraception behavior; Reproductive health; Rheumatic diseases; Rheumatoid arthritis; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Unintended pregnancy.