Associations between complementary medicine utilisation and the use of contraceptive methods: Results of a national cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background and purpose: This study examines the relationship between the use of complementary medicine (CM) interventions or consultations with CM practitioners and women's choice of contraceptive method. Materials and methods: A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey of Australian Women aged 34–39 years from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) was conducted. Associations between use of CM and contraception were analysed using Chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Based on the responses from the included women (n = 7299), women who consulted a naturopath/herbalist were less likely to use implant contraceptives (OR 0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33; 0.95). Those consulting a chiropractor (OR 1.54; 95%CI 1.05; 2.25) or an osteopath (OR 2.16; 95% CI 1.32; 3.54) were more likely to use natural contraception. Conclusion: There may be a link between women's choice of contraceptive method and their use of CM, in particular, with CM practitioner consultations.