Participants' knowledge

Most participants had limited initial awareness or understanding of LARCs. Similar to participants in a study in the USA, “satisfaction with the sexual education participants [had] received was rare … when birth control was mentioned at all, condoms or the pills were the only options discussed”.¹ This incomplete knowledge of contraceptive options and LARCs specifically was emphasised by most of the participants, for example Lisa's comments on the right. This echoes findings in other countries^1,2 and New Zealand.³ As Lisa’s answer illustrates, generally, the pill is a familiar default or tried-and-tested option for women. Otherwise, participants were familiar with condoms—usually due to school sex education—but understood them to be less reliable and generally did not enjoy using them. Condoms were often (but not always) a stopgap or last resort method, especially in a committed relationship, reflecting the concern of most participants—both younger and older—with pregnancy prevention; with only a few mentioning the prevention of sexually transmitted infections in any detail.