Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Senior Thesis

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Primary Major

Nursing

Thesis Advisor

Deborah Meshel, RN, MSN

Abstract

The many birth control options available impact a woman’s life, as hormonal contraceptives are commonly used but often misunderstood. These contraceptives, which contain progestin only, or estrogen and progestin combined, can come in various forms such as pills, implants, IUDs, injections, the vaginal ring, and skin patches. They offer benefits such as reduced menstrual cramps and ectopic pregnancy risk. However, they may lead to adverse side effects which can include increased blood pressure, nausea, headaches, breakthrough bleeding, and a higher risk of blood clots, with research indicating a potential link between oral contraceptive use and a decline in the user’s mental health. Given how important the issue of depression is, especially in women, it is prevalent for healthcare providers, educators, and nurses to offer detailed education about the many birth control options there are as well as the potential side effects on one's mental health. This research aims to investigate whether educating adolescent women about hormonal contraception could impact the knowledge of women using it and how it connects to addressing gaps contributing to poor mental health. An educated nurse will provide a pre-education assessment, which will then be followed by education to the teenage girls about the difference between hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives, the advantages and disadvantages of both, as well as potential side effects of using contraceptives.The means of the two differing variables will be compared using a t-test to ascertain if the education has an effect on the population that was sampled.

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