Menstrual patterns, quality of life and contraceptive choice among Australian women

Women experience menstrual cycles that vary in length, number of days menstruating, amount of bleeding and accompanying symptoms. Different contraceptive methods have differing effects on a woman’s menstrual pattern. It would be of interest to note if a woman’s menstrual pattern is associated with her contraceptive choice and quality of life, and if her choice of contraception changes due to menstrual pattern changes. This project will assess the menstrual patterns of Australian women and their contraceptive method of choice using data already collected as part of the Australian Contraceptive Choice project (ACCORd). This project sits within a program of research being undertaken by Professor Mazza in SPHERE, a NHMRC-funded Centre of Research Excellence in Sexual and Reproductive Health for Women in Primary Care. This is the first dedicated Centre to lead research that is aimed at improving the quality, safety, and capacity of primary health care services to achieve better outcomes in women’s sexual and reproductive health. Students working under SPHERE will be supported by Professor Mazza's research team, which consists of Post Docs, PhD students, academic registrars and honours students. They will also have the opportunity to be part of a large, multidisciplinary, collaborative team of investigators, which includes prominent national and international researchers and experts working in women’s health, general practice, pharmacy, nursing, epidemiology, knowledge translation, health economics, and policy development.