Help Us Protect Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Today!
Written by Ellen Stoke, MD In the United States, the contraceptive implant is a single, soft, flexible progestin rod that is inserted subdermally in the upper arm. Globally, two-rod systems are also available and some patients still have a discontinued six-rod system in place. All contraceptive implants should be placed superficially, but occasionally patients and…
Written by Ellen Stoke, MD In the US, the contraceptive implant has become increasingly popular.1-2 This soft, flexible progestin implant is the size of a matchstick and is inserted subdermally in the upper arm. It was first licensed in 1983 as a six-rod contraceptive system (Norplant), and by 1984, the World Health Organization recommended the…
Written by Aderinsola Odetunde, MD Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States, with the highest prevalence among those of African descent.1,2 Many of those living with SCD are not counseled on reproductive health, especially during the transition period from pediatric to adult care.3 Clinicians should regularly discuss reproductive health care…
The Reproductive Health Access Project has finished updating the Medical Eligibility Criteria for Initiating Contraception based on the 2024 CDC Medical Eligibility Criteria (MEC) and Selected Practice Recommendations (SPR) for Contraceptive Use. This is a reference tool for clinicians who want to check a patient’s medical eligibility for initiating various forms of contraception as they…
Written by Sabina Kapkayeva Pharm.D. candidate and Regina Ginzburg, Pharm.D., CDCES, BC-ADM Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1 agonists) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptides (GIP) are increasingly being used in the management of diabetes and/or for weight loss. Several GLP-1 agonist medications available today are known to have interactions with oral hormonal contraceptives, but not through the usual pharmacokinetic…
Written by Innes Tounkel, MD As concerns about climate change continue to grow, the importance of accessible contraception and reproductive health services has become increasingly evident. Climate change refers to long-term shifts in weather patterns and their deleterious consequences, including rising sea levels, melting glaciers, ecological disruptions, and the spread of vector-borne diseases.1,2 Extreme weather…
Written by Meghna Nandi, MD Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) is a commonly used, highly efficacious, progestin-only injectable contraceptive method. Many contraceptive users are drawn to DMPA for the privacy it affords and the convenience of its three-month (11-15 week) dosing schedule.1 Although DMPA has many advantages, there are concerns over the method’s impact on bone…
Written by Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD, MS and Kelly M. Treder, MD, MPH Since the Dobbs decision, as access to abortion services has become more challenging in many parts of the country, the possibility of contraceptive failure has become more distressing. Unintended pregnancy is relatively common, even among patients who use contraception.1 Because many patients…
Written by Angeline Ti On August 6, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updates for the U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC) and the U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (U.S. SPR). Adapted from guidelines from the World Health Organization, the U.S. MEC and U.S. SPR provide…
Written by Meghan Hynes This Pearl is the third part of a three-part String of Pearls series that examines the effects of different substances on fetal development and recommends harm reduction strategies to reduce risks involved with substance use during pregnancy. You can read the first two parts on our website. Electronic cigarettes and marijuana…
Your gift allows us to mobilize, train, and support clinicians across the country to provide reproductive health care.