Contraception and Amenorrhea: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study on Acceptability in Filipino/Filipino-American Women

Introduction: Research on Filipino-American contraceptive use is limited. We aimed to gauge beliefs and attitudes in this population regarding menstrual suppression through contraception. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a modified version of a validated survey tool was administered through REDCap to a purposive convenience sample of 95 participants from California community organizations. The inclusion criteria were female, Filipino-American, aged between 18 and 55, and able to understand English and/or Filipino, the Philippine national language. Eligible participants consented before participation. Results: Most participants (70%) believed that contraceptive-induced amenorrhea (CIA) was harmful, and over half (56%) would not consider CIA. Chi-square analysis revealed that Philippine-born respondents were significantly more likely to avoid CIA than American-born respondents. Older age of immigration was associated with CIA avoidance. Discussion: Overall avoidance of CIA was observed among Filipino-American women (FAW), particularly those of migrant backgrounds. Future research and policy should aim to mitigate such reproductive health disparities.