Contraception

Contraceptive effectiveness is determined by several factors, including drug or device efficacy, individual fecundability, coital frequency, and user adherence and continuation.

While the use of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) among patients with rheumatoid and autoimmune disorders have focused on safety, a narrative review in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research highlighted the efficacy and benefits of these contraceptives in females with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Combined oral contraceptives were found to be moderately more efficacious than placebo for treating overall premenstrual symptomatology in women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Julie Harper, MD, of the Dermatology and Skin Care Center of Birmingham, Alabama explained the use, side effects, and risks of spironolactone and oral contraceptives in a presentation at the current Maui Derm for Dermatologists meeting in Maui, Hawaii.

Agile Therapeutics, Inc. recently announced a new alliance with Afaxys Pharma, LLC to promote levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol (Twirla) transdermal system.

Pooled estimates for chlamydia and/or gonorrhea were also null, but LARC users were significantly more likely to contract trichomoniasis infection compared to oral contraceptive users.

Half of prisons and over 80% of jails in the United States allowed postpartum permanent contraception, according to a study in the journal Contraception.

The findings support previous research demonstrating that increased access to emergency contraception does not compromise use of other more effective methods or lead to an increase in reported levels of unprotected sexual intercourse, according to Hawkins.

Often based on racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and age-based assumptions

A new study found that reproductive history indicators were not directly linked to cognitive measures of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in midlife women.

Patients in California were able to receive a contraceptive prescription during a visit with a pharmacist.

Professionals who provide contraception counseling need sufficient training and resources to offer comprehensive information about adverse reactions of intrauterine contraception, according to 2 web-based discussion boards about sexual and reproductive health.

A recent cohort study found an increase in unplanned pregnancies during the pandemic, as well as decreased access to contraception during this time.

For the analysis as a whole, “The more localized the copper on an IUD frame and the ability of the frame to conform to the uterine cavity, the more favorable were outcomes at one year,” wrote the authors.

One year after the close of the Increasing Access to Contraception (IAC) Learning Community, participants had sustained their efforts in support of at least 1 goal: to improve women’s access to the full range of contraceptive options.

A pair of studies provide insight into the increased risk of dysglycemia among women with PCOS and the potential influence of combined oral contraceptive pills on this risk in a population-based cohort.

Women with mental illness who use contraception may have comparable or lower rates of mood symptoms with hormonal contraceptives than those who use other types of contraception, or no contraception at all.

Remote delivery of the SpeakOut intervention failed to increase communication, knowledge, and use of contraception among teens and their peers, according to a recently published study.

Among women with opioid use disorder (OUD) at high risk for unintended pregnancy, on-site contraceptive services coupled with financial incentives to attend follow-up visits to assess contraceptive satisfaction was a significantly more effective and cost-beneficial intervention than without incentives or with usual care, according to a prospective randomized clinical trial in JAMA Psychiatry.

Women with congenital long-QT syndrome (LQTS) have an increased risk of cardiac events, including sudden cardiac death, after the onset of adolescence, perhaps due to the effects of estrogen and progesterone on cardiac potassium channels.

“Topical drug delivery also provides higher concentrations of the drug to the target site and has fewer side effects,” wrote the authors.

The findings of a secondary analysis from a randomized trial of intrauterine devices (IUDs) for emergency contraception should bolster confidence about the low pregnancy risk when providers insert an IUD following a recent episode of unprotected intercourse.

A reader writes in to discuss an issue with an article published on June 15, 2021, titled "Progestogen-only pill for emergency contraception."

Adolescent oral contraceptive use is associated with a small yet meaningful increased risk of experiencing an episode of major depressive disorder (MDD) in early adulthood, especially among women with no history of MDD in adolescence.

Among women with opioid use disorder (OUD) at high risk for unintended pregnancy, onsite contraceptive services coupled with financial incentives to attend follow-up visits to assess contraceptive satisfaction was a significantly more efficacious and cost-beneficial intervention than without incentives or with usual care, according to a prospective randomized clinical trial in JAMA Psychiatry.