Contraceptive Pearl: Hormonal Contraceptives and Blood Pressure

Hormonal contraceptives’ effect on blood pressure depends on the type of synthetic estrogen/progestin and hormone dosage. This Contraceptive Pearl covers the risks of hormonal contraception and how to best establish medical eligibility for initiating hormonal contraception.

Contraceptive Pearl: Emergency Contraception Considerations for Timing, Weight and Efficacy

Are emergency contraception (EC) pills less effective for overweight patients? Unfortunately, the answer is yes – and the degree of this effect depends on the patient’s body mass index (BMI) and the type of EC. This Contraceptive Pearl discusses how BMI plays a roll in choosing the most effective emergency contraception for each patient.

Contraceptive Pearl: Permanent Birth Control for Men (Vasectomy)

Compared to female sterilization, vasectomy is simpler, less expensive, and less likely to cause complications. Vasectomy has efficacy over 99%. Given its many advantages, why is vasectomy so under-used?

Contraceptive Pearl: Permanent Birth Control Options

For patients who don’t want to have more children, there are several permanent birth control options available: tubal ligation and hysteroscopic sterilization for women, and vasectomy for men. This Contraceptive Pearl covers the pros and cons of each option.

Contraceptive Pearl: Headaches and Hormonal Contraception

Women with migraine headaches have a higher risk of stroke – migraine with aura raises the risk more – and estrogen-containing contraceptives raise the risk of stroke even further. May women with migraine headaches take estrogen-containing birth control?

Contraceptive Pearl: Sex, Education and Taking Sexual History of Teens

Seventy percent of teens report having had intercourse by their 19th birthday. However, 41% of teens aged 18-19 report that they know little or nothing about condoms, and 75% report that they know little or nothing about the contraceptive pill. This Contraceptive Pearl coves how best to talk to teens about contraception.

Contraceptive Pearl: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and the IUD

This Contraceptive Pearl explains how one’s history with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease affects IUD use.

Contraceptive Pearl: A look at Copper and Progestin IUD Duration

How long do IUDs remain effective? After the FDA approved the progestin (Mirena) and copper (Paragard) IUDs, further studies supported two extra years of use for each device.

Contraceptive Pearl: Copper IUD as Emergency Contraception

When a woman needs emergency contraception (EC), remember the Copper IUD! This Contraceptive Pearl covers use of the Copper IUD as emergency contraception.

Contraceptive Pearl: Introducing Skyla, a New IUD

Skyla contains 13.5mg of levonorgestrel and provides up to three years of protection against pregnancy. Learn all about this new intrauterine device in this Contraceptive Pearl.