Contraceptive Pearl: Comprehensive Contraceptive Counseling
Nearly half of all pregnancies in the U.S are unintended, and teens are at highest risk for experiencing an unwanted pregnancy. Does comprehensive contraceptive counseling affect women’s decisions?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all women be “counseled about the full range and effectiveness of contraceptive methods for which they are medically eligible.” A recent study found that 69% of 14- to 17-year-olds and 61% of 18- to 20-year-olds who were provided with contraceptive counseling that highlights the efficacy of various long acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods subsequently chose LARC over non-LARC methods. Many of the women in this study considered ease of use to be the most important factor in their decision.
A study of 1,000 15- to 20-year-olds revealed that following comprehensive counseling on all combined hormonal contraceptives, women were more likely to choose the vaginal ring or patch than oral contraceptive pills. However, women who had chosen the pill before counseling were unlikely to opt for an alternate method afterward.
Optimal contraceptive counseling should follow the principles of shared decision-making. Clinicians should offer comprehensive information about all contraceptive methods, honor patients’ preferences, use patient-centered language, and address methods’ ease of use.
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Helpful Resources
Your Birth Control Choices Fact Sheet
Sources
Pharma-free
The Reproductive Health Access Project does not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies. We do not promote specific brands of medication or contraception. The information in the Contraceptive Pearls is unbiased, based on science alone.
