In June 2017, the internal condom’s manufacturer changed it from over-the-counter in pharmacies to prescription and online-only. There are now four ways patients can get the internal condom: 1. Prescription from a clinician; 2. Prescription from an online clinician; 3. Bulk order through the manufacturer’s website; 4. Community organizations that provide the condom. Patients can purchase…
Patients often switch from one contraceptive method to another. For example, a patient who has trouble remembering to take a pill daily may change from an oral contraceptive to an implant. To minimize the risk of an unintended pregnancy, patients should avoid gaps between methods. That is, patients should go straight from one method to…
Many clinicians schedule a follow-up visit after an IUD insertion. Is this necessary? The CDC does not suggest that patients return for a routine follow-up after IUD insertion. Instead, patients should be encouraged to contact their clinician at any time if they have questions or concern about their IUD. The CDC recommends that at other…
Clinical Question: Can a patient use ulipristal acetate (ella) for emergency contraception more than once a menstrual cycle? Jodi K, FNP New York, NY Jodi’s patient took ulipristal for emergency contraception one week ago and had a second condom rupture six days later. The patient’s body mass index is 31, and she did not want…
This issue reviews which birth control options are best for folks of varied gender experiences, particularly for people taking gender-affirming hormones like testosterone or estrogen.
Many people stop using contraception too early in their lives, due to the fact that they believe infertility happens earlier than it does. Learn more about when to stop using contraception in this Contraceptive Pearl.
For people who want to avoid hormonal contraceptives, consider using internal condoms. Read more about them in this Contraceptive Pearl.
Only a very small percentage of men in the US have had vasectomies. In this Contraceptive Pearl, learn more about them and their benefits for men who are finished with childbearing.
Implicit bias can lead clinicians to encourage certain contraceptive methods over others for particular groups of patients. This edition of the Contraceptive Pearls summarizes recent studies on implicit bias and discusses the importance of patient-centered contraceptive counseling.
Some people struggle with nausea related to oral contraception. Read this Contraceptive Pearl for reasons this might be happening and ways to fix this issue.