Contraceptive use and sexual quality of life of patients with thalassemia in Northern Cyprus: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Objective: Although contraception methods are an important factor affecting sexual life, no literature has been recorded about the contraceptive methods used and the sexual life of thalassemia patients. The aim of this study is to document the effects of and preferences of contraception methods used in the sexual lives of patients with thalassemia.

Methods: The descriptive and cross-sectional study took place in Northern Cyprus at a Thalassemia Center in a State Hospital. The study sample consisted of 100 thalassemia major or intermedia patients. The data includes descriptive characteristics, the preference of contraception methods used by men and women and Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaires.

Results: Participants learned about contraception methods mostly from social media/internet, and 58.3% of the women and 46.2% of the men did not use any contraception method within the last year. Women's sexual quality of life score was 70.3±19.9 and men's Sexual Quality of Life score was 78.9±20.6. Women having knowledge of contraception methods had higher scores than man (p<0.05). Male patients not having physical exercise had sexual quality of life scores significantly lower than those who followed exercise programs (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Results indicate a significant need to include family planning and sexual health subjects that specifically address thalassemia patients.