Psychosomatic Medicine 30:495-505 (1968)
© 1968 American Psychosomatic Society

Changes in Sexual Behavior Consequent to Use of Noncoital Procedures of Contraception

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

Interview and questionnaire information was obtained about sexual behavior of 36 couples before the husband had had an elective vasectomy operation for contraceptive purposes, and from 22 couples before the wife began using ovulation-suppressing medication for contraceptive purposes. Further questionnaire and interview data were systematically obtained during the 4 years following initiation of these procedures. Frequency of intercourse increased slightly, from a mildly depressed rate initially to approximately the cultural average reported in previous studies. Noncoital methods of stimulation to orgasm increased appreciably, indicating that such procedures are used primarily for sexual pleasure rather than for contraceptive avoidance of coition. Sexual problems such as impotence, frigidity, or premature ejaculation were not markedly affected by the procedures. Effective contraception did not result in a marked increase in reported extramarital activity.