Hormonal Contraception, Breast Cancer, and Communicating Risk to Patients

This Contraceptive Pearl clarifies how to communicate risk to address questions regarding cancer risk for users of hormonal contraception.

Contraceptive Pearl: Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk

Fear of cancer prevents many people from using birth control pills. However, contrary to popular belief, oral contraceptives (OC) do not raise one’s overall risk of cancer. This Contraceptive Pearl lays out the cancer risks associated with using hormonal contraception.

Contraceptive Pearl: Postpartum IUD Insertion and Risk of Uterine Perforation

IUDs are a safe and reliable form of contraception. With proper counseling about known risks, IUDs can be offered ay any time during the postpartum period. 

Contraceptive Pearl: Promoting Contraceptive Adherence

For many reasons, some people have a low adherence rate to their hormonal contraceptives. This Contraceptive Pearl explains trials run by the Cochrane Collaborative aimed at increasing adherence rates.

Contraceptive Pearl: Continuous Use of Contraception

Why have a period? Hormonal contraception products allow for plenty of flexibility. This Contraceptive Pearls explains how to skip periods by using hormonal birth control. This Contraceptive Pearl was first published March 2010.

Contraceptive Pearl: Multiple Sclerosis and Contraception

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a degenerative neurologic disorder, often begins in early adulthood. The illness itself does not complicate pregnancy or affect contraceptive choice. Read this Contraceptive Pearl to learn more about managing contraception for patients with multiple sclerosis.

Contraceptive Pearl: New Contraceptive Point of Care App

Family Physician Joshua Steinberg and his colleagues at the UHS Department of Family Medicine developed a free contraceptive point-of-care app that pulls together evidence-based resources from the Reproductive Health Access Project, the CDC, and other sources. The resources in the app include the Quick Start Algorithm, the Medical Eligibility Criteria for Initiating Contraception, a table of…

Contraceptive Pearl: Is follow-up necessary after starting OCs?

Although follow-up appointments for patients who have just been prescribed oral contraceptives can be seen as positive, they can actually present many problems for some patients. Read this Contraceptive Pearl to find out why these follow-ups might not be necessary.

Contraceptive Pearl: Headaches and Hormonal Contraception

Women who have migraines with aura and take estrogen-containing contraceptives have a relatively higher risk of suffering from a stroke than women who take contraceptives without estrogen. Luckily, there are multiple progestin-only contraceptives, which you can read about in this Contraceptive Pearl.

Contraceptive Pearl: EC and Hormonal Contraception

Emergency contraceptives with ulipristal may lower the efficacy of hormonal birth control. This Contraceptive Pearl explains how to use effective birth control after taking ulipristal.