Contraception
Aka: Contraception, Birth Control, Provision of Contraception, Family Planning, Contraceptive Services
II. Efficacy: First year failure rates of Contraception
- Most effective methods: Permanent (<1 pregnancy per year in 100 women)
- Vasectomy: 0.15% failure rate
- Tubal Ligation: 0.5% failure rate
- Hysteroscopic Sterilization: 0.5% failure rate
- Most effective methods: Reversible (<1 pregnancy per year in 100 women)
- Implantable Contraception (e.g. Nexplanon): 0.05% failure rate
- Levonorgestrel IUD (e.g. Mirena): 0.2% failure rate
- Copper-T IUD: 0.8% failure rate
- Effective methods (6-12 pregnancies per year in 100 women)
- Depo Provera Injection: 6% failure rate
- Oral Contraceptives: 9% failure rate
- Contraceptive Patch (e.g. Ortho Evra): 9% failure rate
- Vaginal Contraceptive Ring (NuvaRing): 9% failure rate
- Contraceptive Diaphragm: 12% failure rate
- Least effective methods (>18 pregnancies per year in 100 women)
- Male Condom: 18%
- Female Condom: 21%
- Withdrawal Method: 22%
- Contraceptive Sponge: 12% (nullip) to 24% (parous) failure rate
- Natural Family Planning: 24% failure rate
- Vaginal Spermicide: 28% failure rate
- References
III. Preparations: Non-Hormonal Options
- Male Condom
- Female Condom
- Contraceptive Diaphragm
- Contraceptive Sponge (no longer available in U.S.)
- Cervical Cap
- Vaginal Spermicide
- Natural Family Planning and Fertility awareness
- Contraceptive Sponge (returns to U.S. market in 2005)
IV. Preparations: Hormonal Contraception
- Oral Contraceptive
- Depo Provera Injectable (repeated every 3 months)
- Intrauterine Device
- Copper T-380A (Paragard) IUD: 10 years
- Mirena (5 year device)
- Skyla (3 year device)
- Older devices included the one year Progestasert IUD (discontinued)
- Vaginal Contraceptive Ring (NuvaRing)
- Contraceptive Patch (Ortho Evra)
- Implantable Progesterone Rods
V. History
- Confirmation of Non-Pregnant State
- Menstrual history
- Last Menstrual Period
- Menstrual period regularity
- Pregnancy history
- Lactation history
- Most recent intercourse
- Menstrual history
- Chronic medical problems (directs contraceptive selection as in management below)
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Seizure Disorders
- Bariatric Surgery
- Venous Thromboembolism or Thrombophilia
- Migraine Headache with aura
- Hypertension
- Tobacco abuse
- Chronic Corticosteroid use
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
- Sexual history (and risks for STI)
- Current and recent sexual partners
- Condom use
- Prior Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)
- Other history related to contraceptive selection
- Contraceptive use in the past and preferences
- Intention for future pregnancy
VI. Exam
- Blood Pressure
- Avoid combination Oral Contraceptives in Uncontrolled Hypertension
- Body weight and BMI
- Consider avoiding Depo Provera in low BMI patients (increased Osteoporosis risk)
- Monitor weight for methods that may be associated with significant weight gain (e.g. Depo Provera)
- Pelvic Examination
- Not required for extra-pelvic forms of Contraception (e.g. OCP, Depo Provera, Nexplanon, Contraceptive Patch)
- Indicated when placing Intrauterine Device, Cervical Cap, Contraceptive Diaphragm
- STD Testing may be performed at time of IUD Placement in asymptomatic patients (to avoid delays)
- Avoid requiring Pap Smear or well woman physical exam prior to starting Contraception
VII. Labs
- Pregnancy Test
- Confirmation of Non-Pregnant State by history may also suffice
VIII. Management: General
- Initiation: Avoid barriers and delays
- Start Contraception at time of visit (unless not able to reliably confirm Non-Pregnant State)
- Bridge to longterm method if unable to confirm Non-Pregnant State
- Use non-intrauterine Contraception until repeat Pregnancy Test in 2-4 weeks
- Compliance
- Prescribe one year supply of Contraception
- Help facilitate compliance (reminder systems, longterm Contraception)
- Reassess Contraception compliance and method satisfaction at routine visits
- Discuss permanent methods (e.g. Vasectomy, Tubal Ligation) if completed intended child bearing
- Sexually Transmitted Infection prevention
- Make Condoms readily available as part of dual protection for those at risk of STI
- Specific cohorts
- Postpartum counseling on Contraception after delivery
- Perimenopause continuation of Contraception until Menopause or age 50 to 55 years old
- Adolescent Health counseling on Contraception and Sexually Transmitted Infection prevention
- Consider Long-Acting Reversible Contraception are preferred (e.g. IUD, dermal implants)
- Diedrich (2015) Am J Obstet Gynecol 213(5): 662 [PubMed]
- Schmidt (2015) J Adolesc Health 57(4): 381-6 [PubMed]
IX. Management: Contraceptive Selection in comorbid conditions
- See Contraceptive Selection in Diabetes Mellitus
- See Contraceptive Selection in Underlying Cardiovascular Disease
- See Contraceptive Selection in Seizure Disorder
- History of Bariatric Surgery (only roux-en-Y affected due to malabsorption)
- Avoid Oral Contraceptives
- History of Venous Thromboembolism
- Avoid all Estrogen products (Oral Contraceptives, NuvaRing, Ortho Evra)
- Migraine Headache with aura
- Avoid all Estrogen products (Oral Contraceptives, NuvaRing, Ortho Evra)
- Poorly controlled Hypertension
- Avoid all Estrogen products (Oral Contraceptives, NuvaRing, Ortho Evra)
- Corticosteroids chronically
- Avoid Depo Provera (risk of Osteoporosis)
- Tobacco abuse over age 35 years
- Avoid all Estrogen products (Oral Contraceptives, NuvaRing, Ortho Evra)
- Cerebrovascular Accident
- Avoid all Estrogen products (Oral Contraceptives, NuvaRing, Ortho Evra)
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Antiphospholipid Antibodies
- Avoid all Estrogen products (Oral Contraceptives, NuvaRing, Ortho Evra)
- References