To evaluate a potential bias between methods of birth control used and prescribed by physicians, we surveyed sexually active female physicians in regards to their own methods of birth control. When the contraceptive practices of female physicians are compared to those of the general population, no difference in use of various contraceptive methods is found. Among female obstetrician-gynecologists, however, the intrauterine device continues to be a disproportionally popular method of contraception. It is concluded that no gender bias exists in prescribing patterns of contraceptives since contraceptive use in female physicians is identical to that of the general populations.
PIP: To evaluate a potential bias between methods of birth control used and prescribed by physicians, the authors surveyed sexually active female physicians in regards to their own methods of birth control. In Chicago in 1984, the authors distributed 1000 questionnaires; 314 were completed. Of these 314 respondents, 235 were between ages 25 and 44 and were sexually active. Results show that 10% used oral contraceptives, 14% used IUDs, 32% used some form of barrier method, 23% were sterilized, and 8% used the rhythm method. 13% used no form of birth control. When contraceptive methods by age group are compared between female physicians and the general population, there is no difference with 1 exception: female physicians aged 25-35 show a lower rate of sterilization than the general population (3% versus 12%). Once medical training and childbearing are completed, sterilization becomes the most common method of contraception. With increasing age, female physicians exhibit the same trends in contraceptive choice as the general population, namely decreasing use of oral contraceptives and barrier methods and a more steady use of the IUD and the rhythm method. Female physicians expose themselves to the possibility of unwanted pregnancy to the same extent as the general population. A surprising finding was the relative increase in IUD use among female obstetrician-gynecologists when compared to all other female physicians as well as to the general population. Since no difference in the use of the various contraceptive methods was noted between female physicians and the general population, it can also be concluded that apparently no gender bias exists among physicians who provide contraceptive advice.