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Statistics show more use of LARC — How can you maintain momentum?

The latest national statistics show that long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) now follow the Pill, sterilization, and condoms as the most common methods currently used by women in the United States.¹ However, with 51% of pregnancies unintended in the United States,² advocates are pushing to improve access to such effective birth control.

Where should teens access condoms?

On the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), 40% of sexually active U.S. high school students reported that they did not use a condom at last intercourse. This percentage has significantly declined since 1991 when the survey began but has increased since a low of 37% in 2003.¹ Additionally, in 2013 less than 10% of students reported dual use of condoms plus a hormonal method.

Despite new options, oral contraceptive pills are still in birth control mix, survey respondents say

How are oral contraceptives being used in today’s family planning practices? The Affordable Care Act (ACA) might be making a difference when it comes to use of the Pill. Between 2012 and 2013, the number of women who filled prescriptions for the Pill with no co-pay more than quadrupled from 1.2 million to 5.1 million, according to data from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics in Parsippany, NJ, an information and technology service.

Oral contraceptives — Should they be OTC?

When it comes to moving oral contraceptives over the counter (OTC), almost 50% of participants in the Contraceptive Technology Update Contraception Survey say they support such a move. Support for OTC access is growing; 62% of American women support the pill being available without a prescription.

With unsurpassed efficacy and rapid reversibility, contraceptive implant can be put into practice

While use of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods is growing, the contraceptive implant (Nexplanon, Merck & Co., Whitehouse Station, NJ) is still underused, say family planning experts. Look at the most recent national figures: In 2009, 8.5% of women using contraceptives relied on LARC methods, rising from 5.5% in 2007 and 2.4% in 2002. However, most of these women (nearly 8%) use intrauterine devices (IUDs), compared to less than 1% who use the implant.

Ortho Evra patch discontinued — What next?

Rewind to 2002: The first transdermal contraceptive, the Ortho Evra patch, hit U.S. pharmacy shelves. Fast forward to the present: The manufacturer has production of the device “due to a business decision,” according to information on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

CTU remembers Michael Rosenberg, MD, MPH

The reproductive health research community is paying tribute to Michael Rosenberg, MD, MPH, founder and chief executive officer of the Durham, NC-based clinical research organization, Health Decisions. Rosenberg was killed in a Dec. 8 plane crash in Maryland.

For Methods that are Reversible and Long-acting, the Upswing Continues

Our annual contraception survey shows “dramatically more” women choosing intrauterine and implant contraception.

Hot topic: Medicine that is evidence-based

This year will see development of new evidence-based documents for the family planning resource library: the U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the newly-updated Title X Program Guidelines, issued by the Office of Family Planning within the Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Population Affairs.

Finally! HPV male shot routinely recommended

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has voted to recommend that males be routinely vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), a move many public health officials seeing as a boost for use of the shot.

Contraceptive Technology Update

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