Abstract

Background —Hormonal contraceptives (HCs) are widely used among reproductive-age women, yet concerns about weight gain remain common and are frequently cited as a reason for dissatisfaction or discontinuation. Dissatisfaction and discontinuation of HCs can lead to unintended pregnancy—a serious health concern in the United States. Existing research has largely focused on objectively measured weight change as a secondary outcome rather than on perceptions of weight-related side effects, and no validated tool currently assesses these perceptions. Additionally, studies have historically failed to include women with overweight and obesity. This cross-sectional mixed-methods study developed and face-validated an online survey measuring reproductive-age women’s perceptions of weight-related side effects of HCs. Purpose — The purpose of the study was to develop and establish the face validity of a novel survey instrument—the Perceived Changes with Birth Control (PERCH-BC) survey—designed to assess reproductive-age women’s perceptions of weight-related side effects of hormonal contraceptives.  Methods — Fifteen reproductive-age women (ages 20-45) across BMI categories (normal, overweight, obese) participated in three iterative rounds of cognitive interviews after completing the survey to inform survey revisions. Results — By the final round of cognitive interviews, participants found the survey clear, interpretable, and easy to complete. Cognitive interviews also revealed widespread gaps in contraceptive knowledge. Conclusions — Iterative cognitive interviews improved the face validity of the PERCH-BC survey, a tool that addresses a key gap in measuring perceptions of HC-related weight change. Findings highlight the need for improved contraceptive education and counseling to support informed decision-making and reduce discontinuation.

Publication Date

4-22-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Dietetics and Nutrition (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Wegmans School of Health and Nutrition

College

College of Health Sciences and Technology

Advisor

Barbara Lohse

Advisor/Committee Member

Adnin Zaman

Advisor/Committee Member

Brenda Abu

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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