Mar 20
Search Results for Contraceptive pearl
Contraceptive Pearl: Discussing Emergency Contraception & Weight
Written by Samantha Hyacinth We are able to offer patients more options for emergency contraception (EC) than ever before. Now, those who have unprotected sex or a contraceptive failure can choose between 1.5 mg levonorgestrel, 30 mg ulipristal acetate (UPA), the copper IUD (Cu-IUD), and the 52 mg levonorgestrel IUD (LNG-IUD). Unfortunately, not all of…
Contraceptive Pearl: Vasectomy Counseling
Written by Heather Stevens, MD Vasectomy is a highly effective method used for permanent sterilization for people with testicles. This method has been used for over 100 years across the world. Vasectomies are done in an outpatient setting with local anesthesia, and have very low complication rates. Though vasectomy is less expensive and safer than…
Contraceptive Pearl: Hormonal IUDs
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…
Contraceptive Pearl: Over-the-Counter Access to Oral Contraceptives
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.¹ Recently, HRA Pharma…
Contraceptive Pearl: HIV Counseling & Screening for People Without HIV
Written by Samantha Hyacinth with support from The Well Project Approximately 1 in 7 of the estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV in the US are unaware of their diagnosis.¹ About 40% of new HIV cases involve transmission from someone who is unaware that they have it. Because it is important to start antiretroviral therapy as…
Contraceptive Pearl: Contraceptive Counseling for People Living with HIV
Written by Samantha Hyacinth with support from The Well Project Major advancements in HIV treatment and prevention mean that people living with HIV are no longer limited to condoms for contraception. Most patients with HIV have the full range of contraceptive options. Studies of couples all over the world show that when a person living with…
Contraceptive Pearl: Preconception Counseling for People Living with HIV
Written by Samantha Hyacinth with support from The Well Project By the end of 2019, about 1.2 million people aged 13 and older were living with HIV in the United States.¹ Because HIV is transmitted mainly via sex and injection drug use, it carries more stigma than other chronic diseases. People living with HIV are unfairly portrayed…
Contraceptive Pearl: Understanding Reproductive Coercion
Written by Chelsea Faso, M.D. Reproductive coercion is defined as behaviors or policies that interfere with decision-making about contraception and pregnancy. In the US, clinicians have often been complicit in implementing and enforcing reproductive oppression and coercive practices, sending and reinforcing the message: certain groups of people are more fit to parent than others. This…
Contraceptive Pearl: Non-Pharmacologic Options for Pain Control with Intrauterine Device Insertion
Written by Angeline Ti, MD, MPH The experience of pain combines cognitive, emotional, and sensory components, and is often a complex interaction between a person’s past experiences, current state of mind, and what nerves are being irritated. While there are a variety of pharmacologic options for pain control with IUD insertions, there are also non-pharmacologic…
Contraceptive Pearl: Hormonal Birth Control & Weight Gain
Do hormonal contraceptives cause weight gain? One survey of American women indicated that concern about weight gain was the most common single reason for discontinuing combined OCPs.
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