The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between oral contraceptive use and the musculo-tendinous stiffness of the knee flexors. Twenty-three female participants and ten male participants (control group) ranging in age from 20 - 30 years. A uniaxial accelerometer was used to assess stiffness based on the exponential decay of the damped oscillation. Female groups had estradiol and 17 a-OH progesterone levels tested. At 30% of MVC, the Ortho-Tri Cyclen group, the Other OC group and women not using OC's had a mean stiffness of 249.3+94.5, 274.1+79.1 and 216.0+43.3 Nm/rad respectively and at 50% of MVC values of 290.2+70.7, 326.7+78.9 and 267.9+52.6 Nm/rad respectively. No significant difference in stiffness was found. Also no correlation was found between estradiol and stiffness. These results indicate that there was no significance between knee stiffness and oral contraceptives within the female groups. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

This study explored the experience of contraceptive use by women wanting to prevent pregnancy. Six women between the ages of 22 and 41 were interviewed concerning their lifetime experience with contraception. The women spoke of similar issues such as making their own decisions, being ambivalent at times, fear of pregnancy, taking risks, reactions to failure of a method and the influence of mothers, partners, and health care providers. The seven themes that emerged were titled as "the decision was mine", "throw caution to the wind", "scared half to death", "something's just not right here", "a big, big shock", "I was never told the facts of life" and "you don't ask any questions". Themes were described using the actual words of each woman interviewed so as to reflect the lived experience of contraceptive use. / School of Nursing

Thesis (MScMed)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Community Medicine, 1986? / Includes bibliographical references (v. 2, leaves [410]-464).

Thesis (PhD. (Sociology))-University of Pretoria, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Duquesne University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 181-195) and index.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brock University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 97-126).

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-142). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--Mahidol University, 1984.