Written by Stephanie Mischell The current legal landscape of abortion care is varied and hostile. As more states ban or restrict abortion access, patients are facing more stigma and misinformation when navigating abortion care than ever. As clinicians, it is our duty to advocate for patients by providing nonjudgmental and compassionate options counseling, and accurate…
Written by Samantha Glass Hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) have been in use for over thirty years. Levonorgestrel-IUDs prevent pregnancy primarily by inducing a sterile inflammatory response in the uterus that is toxic to sperm and ova, with additional hormonal effects on the endometrium and cervical mucus. There are various hormonal IUD options that are effective…
This patient fact sheet compares different birth control choices in a colorful and easy to read chart. The methods are organized alphabetically. The sheet includes essential information about each method, how to use, impact on bleeding/menstruation, along with common side effects. Ideal for health centers, doctor’s offices, and school clinics.
Self-managed/self-sourced medication abortion (SMA) with mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprostol alone is safe and effective. It can be empowering and life-saving.1,2 As abortion restrictions and bans spread across the US, primary care clinicians and other health professionals will encounter more patients who are interested in using or have used these medications on their own. Most…
Written by H. Reeve Bright Requiring a prescription for oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) creates access barriers for patients. Over-the-counter (OTC) OCPs are available in over 100 countries throughout the world, but not in the United States. As of July 2021, 21 states offered pharmacist-prescribed birth control pills, but no states offered over-the-counter OCPs.ยน Recently, HRA Pharma…