Problems with condoms -- a population-based study among Finnish men and women.

Objective: This study evaluates men's and women's opinions of condom use and problems with it in real life.

Methods: Random samples of men and women, aged 18-50 years, were drawn from the Finnish Population Register and were mailed a questionnaire on family planning. Response rates were 36% for men (706) and 58% for women (1136).

Oral contraceptives: views among primary health-care physicians and the general population.

Objectives: To ascertain the views of physicians and the general population concerning oral contraceptive (OC) use and the risk of thrombosis after the pill scare and, moreover, to investigate whether respondents' smoking habits had any impact on these perceptions.

Method: A questionnaire on family planning was mailed to randomly selected Finnish health-center physicians (n = 351) and to a random sample of Finnish women (n = 393) and men (n = 395). All were asked to evaluate statements concerning OCs using a visual analog scale from 0 (strongly disagree) to 100 (strongly agree).

Contraceptive methods used and preferred by men and women.

In 1997, a random sample of Finnish men (n = 395) and women (n = 393) aged 18-50 years received a postal questionnaire concerning family planning, in which they were asked which contraceptive methods they had ever used and which three methods they considered to be best. Men's contraceptive preferences were compared to those of women. The response rate for men was 45% and for women 56%.

Use and knowledge of hormonal emergency contraception.

Hormonal emergency contraception (EC) is an acceptable means of postcoital prevention of pregnancy, but potential users should have information and education about it before they need it. The aim of this study was to establish how many women and how many men's partners have used hormonal EC and how well the respondents know the correct time to take EC pills. Random samples (393 women and 395 men) were drawn from the Finnish population register.