The CONTESSA study was a prospective longitudinal cohort survey of contraceptive use patterns among women of reproductive age in England (over 24 months). The dataset was drawn from the Health Survey for England 2006, with a baseline sample of 1,091 potentially fertile women aged 18–49 who were not sterilised and consented to follow‑up. These participants completed a baseline interview and were followed up at three subsequent waves at roughly 6‑month intervals, with 904 completing wave two and 845 completing wave three, providing repeated measures of contraceptive continuation, discontinuation, switching, and related behaviours. The dataset also included a nested qualitative component of interviews to explore reasons for changing or stopping methods and experiences around contraception.

This Record is a digital tombstone. The data files associated with this record were destroyed/deleted on the 17 April 2026 in line with the approved retention schedule.