Table 2 Perceived risks and side-effects of contraceptives reported by youth and parents

Male condoms

• If expired can cause infections

• Oils/lubricants cause stomach pains

• Cause cancer and sores on penis

• Lubricants cause cancer and sores on penis

• Worms in the packaging

• Cause illness

Oral contraceptive pills

• Cause permanent sterility

• Pills clog up and accumulate in abdomen

• Weaken sperm cells

• Weaken the man’s libido

• Cause illness

• Pills clog up and accumulate in abdomen

• Ruin the inside of a person, harms the uterus

• Cause illness and death

• Stops egg production permanently

• Make the woman unattractive

• Encourage promiscuity

• Men think women are less satisfying sexually

• Cause continuous menstruation in women

Depo-Provera (injectable)

• Cause permanent sterility

• Cause permanent sterility

• Cause permanent sterility

• Damage the ovaries and destroys egg cells

• Pain in the heart, arms, and legs

• Weaken the man’s libido

• Weaken the man’s libido

• Cause illness

• Stomach pains

• Prevent women from getting cancer

• Weaken the man’s libido

• Skin glows and women look healthy

• Cause illness

• Cause sperm accumulation in women’s body

• Women are not as ‘sweet’ sexually

• Women get enlarged breasts

Implants

• Cause permanent sterility

• Cause permanent sterility

• Move around body and cause illness

• Cause birth of twins after discontinuation

• Damage nerves and blood vessels

• Damage reproductive organs

• Cause uterine cancer

• Heart and body pains

• Continuous menstruation in women

• Close the birth canal

IUDs

• Cause permanent sterility

• Cause illness

• Cause birth complications

• Can cause death