Economic issues and contraception.

In 1995 17.6 million women visited their health care providers to receive services for a birth control method. Factors considered by patients and providers during selection of an appropriate contraceptive are reversibility efficacy and ease and safety of use and cost-effectiveness. Prior to making health care decisions based on possible cost-savings it is imperative to understand the types of cost evaluations used in the health care setting for the allocation of patient and societal limited financial resources. Several high-quality cost analyses show that any form of contraception provides economic value in terms of improved health for women of reproductive age compared with no use of contraception. Most financial savings and health gains are due to the prevention of unintended pregnancy. These findings reinforce the need for effective patient counseling with all contraception methods. Discussion of noncontraceptive benefits especially relative to the continued use of OCs may increase compliance. Overall results showed that regardless of the payment and contraception methods health care expenditure is relatively lower with contraceptive use.