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Women now rely on contraception in such new forms as a transdermal patch and a vaginal ring. In fact, about 75% of readers participating in the 2003 Contraceptive Technology Update Contraception Survey say their facilities are offering these birth control options. What if women could get reliable birth control from a spray-on application to the skin?
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Can women who are breast-feeding use a levonorgestrel intrauterine system? What is the impact of fluconazole (Diflucan, Pfizer; New York City), an oral medication used to treat vaginal yeast infections, on oral contraceptive (OC) efficacy?
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Get ready to implement new advances in your clinical setting: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of oral fluid samples with a rapid HIV diagnostic test kit to provide accurate screening in as little as 20 minutes. While there are three rapid HIV testing kits now on the market, the OraQuick Rapid HIV Antibody Test is the first to get clearance for use on oral fluid samples, which bypasses the need for needlesticks or fingerpricks for blood samples.
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Does advance access to emergency contraception (EC) in adolescents lead to an increase in unprotected sex? Not according to findings from a newly published study, which indicate advance EC provision does not cause teens to have more unprotected intercourse or practice less consistent contraceptive use.
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Many women may experience excessive menstrual bleeding, but for those with extreme menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), such blood loss often interferes with daily activities and can lead to anemia. Defined as total menstrual blood loss of more than 80 ml/cycle, menorrhagia affects 15%-20% of American women.As a clinician, you may opt to treat menorrhagia with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, progestins, or oral contraceptives. However, if these approaches prove ineffective, women may seek endometrial resection or ablation or undergo a hysterectomy
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Review the contraceptive options you currently discuss with your female patients. Where does natural family planning enter into the conversation? You may want to include a discussion of the Standard Days Method (SDM). Defined as a fertility-awareness-based method, the SDM is appropriate for women with regular menstrual cycles between 26 and 32 days long. It identifies days 8-19 of the menstrual cycle as the fertile window the days when pregnancy is very likely.
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Promising advances are being made on the microbicide front: U.S. funding appears imminent for microbicide research and development, a new corporate partnership has been struck with an international research group to step up testing of antiviral AIDS gels, and a number of potential candidates are moving through the research pipeline.
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What is the policy for providing emergency contraception (EC) at your facility? About 81% of respondents to the 2004 Contraceptive Technology Update Contraception Survey say their facilities prescribe EC on site and provide emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) at any time, which continues a trend of strong support for the method.
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Should a woman who is obese and continues to gain weight on Depo-Provera [depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), Pfizer, New York City] be allowed to continue its use if she so desires? Are providers contributing to the health risk of obesity by allowing a woman to do so?
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Adolescents and their parents may have become confused on when to schedule a teens first gynecologic exam when updated cervical cancer screening guidelines were issued in November 2002 by the Atlanta-based American Cancer Society. The 2002 guidelines called for Pap tests beginning either at age 21 or three years after a woman first has sexual intercourse; previous recommendations advised an initial Pap screen shortly after first intercourse or by age 18, whichever occurred first.
