Contraception

Voters in North Dakota sent a clear message that health care decisions, from pregnancy to end-of-life care, must involve only patients and their physicians.

The outbreak of Ebola in West Africa rightly has become a world health crisis. But there are other casualties of the outbreak that we don't hear much about.

A consequence of Measure 1, which may or may not be a "personhood" amendment, is that IVF and other infertility services in North Dakota will end.

Folklore or fact? Getting pregnant soon after stopping contraceptives results in a higher chance of having a baby boy. New research answers this question once and for all.

A large, prospective study shows that teens ages 15 to 19 will use choose and use long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) when they are educated about those methods and given them at no cost.

People like free stuff, especially teenagers. And if you give them free birth control, particularly LARC, they tend to use it.

There is a movement under way to make oral contraceptives over the counter. As a clinician, would you be in favor of this?

Vaginal misoprostol applied prior to intrauterine device (IUD) insertion does not make the procedure go any easier or lessen the patient’s pain, a Dutch study shows. And because the drug has side-effects, the research team suggests it probably shouldn’t be used at all for this purpose. Video provided by The Doctor's Channel.

This case demonstrates the utility of 3D ultrasound, using the coronal plane as a reference point, for patients with an IUD who have pelvic pain.

A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study of data from a single state suggests that there may be a connection between use of hormonal contraceptives prior to pregnancy and increased risk of developing gestational diabetes (GDM).

A novel birth control option is in the works, and it’s in the form of a microchip that, when implanted, could work for up to 16 years. The future is now, folks.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends against pelvic exams in asymptomatic, nonpregnant, adult women. Some say this is faulty logic. What say you?

The Supreme Court justices insist that their decision for Hobby Lobby is limited and narrow in scope. Find out why gynecologist Deborah Ottenheimer, MD, doesn't buy it.

Treating anemia early with iron replacement therapy can significantly improve quality of life in women with heavy menstrual bleeding, new research finds.

Hobby Lobby doesn’t have to offer contraceptives to their employees. If you’re mad, you’re not alone. Read what Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had to say.

What matters most to women and healthcare providers when it comes to contraceptive choices may vary dramatically, according to a recent study in Contraception.

Long-term use of birth control pills has been linked to an increased risk of glaucoma. Do you consider glaucoma risk before prescribing hormonal contraception?

According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the majority of Americans support universal coverage for birth control.

Concerns about asymptomatic sexually transmitted infection (STI) in women at high risk should not delay placement of an intrauterine device (IUD) in women who also are at risk of undesired pregnancy, according to a study by investigators from the University of Pittsburgh. The results, in 366 patients from an inner-city clinic, were presented at the 2014 ACOG Annual Clinical Meeting.

A second-prize paper presented at ACOG 2014 evaluates the risk of uterine perforation for levonorgestrel IUDs and copper IUDs and reports an unexpected finding.

Don’t let time constraints and large patient loads prevent you from providing a thorough well-woman visit. Are you covering all the bases?

Expert Mary Jane Minkin, MD, is quoted in an article in Women’s Health that profiles a study from the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Marijuana and e-cigarettes can cause harm in more ways than you may think. Do you ask your patients about their marijuana or e-cigarette use? The numbers may surprise you.

Diet can’t cure endometriosis, but dietary recommendations could be part of the treatment. Find out here why choosing certain foods may help reduce symptoms.

A striking number of sexually active women experience reproductive coercion by their male partners, and their ability to use contraception and plan pregnancies may be compromised.