Contraceptive Management Research Articles

Physician awareness regarding contraceptive counselling in women with chronic disease

Introduction Contraceptive counselling is essential in women with chronic disease, though it is frequently overlooked. We aimed to assess practices and awareness in contraceptive counselling in hospital physicians caring for reproductive age women with chronic disease. Methods A questionnaire was distributed in April 2017 to physicians from 16 medical specialties in a tertiary care hospital in Portugal. Statistical analysis performed using Microsoft Office Excel® and IBM SPSS-Statistics®. Results Two-hundred physicians participated in the survey: 59.5% were female, 55% under 35 years-old and 48.5% were residents. Only 26.5% practiced in surgical specialties. Two-thirds consistently inquired about the use of contraception. Most referred patients to Family Planning services or performed contraceptive counselling when pregnancy posed significant health risks (89.0%), when prescribing teratogenic medication (79.5%) or drugs with potential interaction with contraceptives (75.0%). Lack of training in contraception was the main reason for not referring patients to Family Planning services. While 83% considered counselling very important, only 5% had recently undergone training and 12.5% felt knowledgeable enough to perform it. Only 12.5% were aware of the institution’s Family Planning resources. Female gender, non-surgical specialty, age over 35 years-old and over 10 years since specialisation were positively associated with awareness. Conclusion Most physicians addressed contraceptive management in women with comorbidities, but adequate training is lacking. Our results highlight the importance of communication between health care providers to achieve an adequate and multidisciplinary approach to reproductive and general health goals.

Zika virus public health crisis and the perpetuation of gender inequality in Brazil

BackgroundIn 2015–2017, the Americas experienced a highly consequential epidemics for pregnancy and childbearing. Mainly transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti, but also through sexual intercourse, the Zika virus poses the risk of congenital Zika syndrome to fetus, which includes microcephaly and other child development complications. When a public health crisis taps directly into reproductive health, typically a feminine realm, responses to the emergency may exacerbate deeply-rooted gender norms. This paper investigates the role of gender in two relational contexts: (a) the government-led response to the pandemic in terms of communication campaigns aimed at preventing Zika infections; and (b) an individual level of response to the emergency, concerning women’s negotiation with their sexual partners with regard to the prevention of Zika as well as pregnancies.MethodsWe conducted content analysis of 94 unique pieces from public health communication campaigns produced by governmental agencies with the goal of promoting Zika awareness. Print and online materials were collected from May 2016 to August 2017, and included TV ads, Internet Pop-ups, and pamphlets. We also analyzed transcripts from 16 focus groups conducted with reproductive-aged women (18–40) in Belo Horizonte and Recife, two large cities differently affected by the Zika outbreak. Women answered open-ended questions connected to the epidemic, in areas such as personal knowledge and experiences with the Zika virus, experiences of their friends and acquaintances, their primary information sources, their perceptions of public health efforts toward containing the outbreak, as well as women’s contraceptive use.ResultsCampaign pieces handling pregnancy and microcephaly were largely gendered. Pieces targeted women, placing on their shoulders the responsibility for protecting a potential fetus from the disease. Importantly, campaigns neglected addressing male’s participation on Zika prevention and contraceptive management, while failing to take into account Brazil’s large proportion of unplanned pregnancies. Women were placed in a double bind by being expected to prevent both pregnancy and Zika, in a context where gendered power imbalances often translate in women having little power/means for condom negotiation/avoiding unprotected sexual intercourse.ConclusionGovernment and individual responses to the epidemics reinforced gender roles, situating pregnant women as responsible for averting mosquito bites and microcephaly. Further, prevention campaigns largely excluded men. Since low-socioeconomic status women possessed fewer resources to preclude infection, we also found that beyond the gender divide, this subgroup faced more pronounced Zika prevention challenges as they found it harder to negotiate condom use with their sexual partners and often could not access other types of contraceptives resulting in unplanned pregnancies.

Hormonal Contraception. Guideline of the DGGG, OEGGG and SGGG (S3 Level, AWMF Registry Number 015/015, January 2020).

Aims This is an official interdisciplinary guideline published and coordinated by the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGGG), the Austrian Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (OEGGG) and the Swiss Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics (SGGG). The guideline was developed for use in German-speaking regions and is backed by numerous professional societies and organizations. The aim of this guideline is to provide an evidence- and consensus-based overview of the diagnostic approach and the management of hormonal contraception based on a systematic evaluation of the relevant literature. Methods To compile this S3-guideline, a systematic search for evidence was carried out in PubMed and the Cochrane Library to adapt existing guidelines and identify relevant reviews and meta-analyses. A structured evaluation of the evidence was subsequently carried out on behalf of the Guidelines Commission of the DGGG, and a structured consensus was achieved based on consensus conferences attended by representative members from the different specialist societies and professions. Recommendations Evidence-based recommendations about the advice given to women requesting contraception were compiled. The guideline particularly focuses on prescribing contraceptives which are appropriate to women's individual needs, take account of her personal circumstances, and have few or no side effects.

Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Emergency Department (ED) Visits for Ob/Gyn Care

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted currently held norms and best practices for women who require evaluations and interventions for Obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) emergency care. The resulting paradigm shifts have demonstrated a reassessment of how Ob/Gyn emergency care is provided in an acute setting while avoiding potential short and long-term harm. The objective of this study is to retrospectively evaluate if patients self-selected to avoid Emergency Department (ED) visits for perceived minor complaints and if postponing such care increased morbidity. Patients accessing Ob/Gyn ED care during the Covid-19 "lockdown period" (group A) in New York State were compared with those during a similar time frame in 2019 (group B). Primary outcomes were the number of ED visits and admission diagnoses. Secondary outcomes were the number of surgeries and clinical acuity on presentation. There was a 72% reduction in the total number of ED visits in group A compared to group B. Although the majority of the visits were for abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding in both groups, among patients who presented with vaginal bleeding in group A, a significantly higher number was due to early pregnancy loss rather than non-pregnancy-related uterine bleeding. The number of visits for non-emergency visits such as vulvovaginitis and contraceptive management was significantly lower and absent respectively. There were 61.5% fewer cases requiring emergency surgery in group A, however, the case acuity remained high with many patients being clinically unstable at presentation. There was a nonsignificant trend of an increased number of surgeries for ectopic pregnancy and pregnancy loss in group A compared to group B. Non-emergency surgeries, and visits for pain control, wound infections or ileus were absent in group A. We conclude that the decline in the ED visits and total number of emergency surgeries during the “lockdown period “were secondary to patients’ choices. This decrease was more pronounced for minor indications; however, many patients with serious conditions had delayed ED visits until they were clinically unstable. Therefore a reassessment of how patients access Ob/Gyn care via ED is indicated, with the goal being to avoid visits for minor indications while preventing potential life-threatening complications.

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Consult Series #55: Counseling women at increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality

Women should be provided with evidence-based information when considering options for contraception and pregnancy management. When counseling about health conditions and available treatments, healthcare practitioners should employ strategies that encourage the incorporation of informed patient preferences into a shared decision-making process with the patient. To optimize the health of women at risk of experiencing adverse health outcomes during or after pregnancy, counseling should be a continuous process throughout the reproductive life course. The purpose of this Consult is to provide guidance for all healthcare practitioners about counseling reproductive-aged women who may be at high risk of experiencing maternal morbidity or mortality.

Distending Media Used During Hysteroscopy: Perioperative Nursing Implications.

Hysteroscopy is a gynecological procedure that may be indicated for abnormal uterine bleeding, diagnosis and management of infertility, contraception, or sterilization. Surgeons use distending media during hysteroscopy to view the uterine cavity. Media options include carbon dioxide gas and both electrolytic and nonelectrolytic fluids. All distending media is absorbed by the patient's body, but the manner in which each media is absorbed is unique to its chemical composition. Understanding the properties of each distending medium and the risks involved with its use is critical to safe perioperative nursing care for patients undergoing hysteroscopy. This article provides perioperative nurses with a review of uterine anatomy and evidence-based information on the types of distending media used during hysteroscopy and the corresponding perioperative nursing implications.

Functional Ovarian cysts: Expectant management versus Oral contraceptives

Background: Ovarian cyst is a common problem in females of reproductive age group. Objective: To compare the expectant management and use of oral contraceptives for the management of ovarian cysts. Methodology: This was a comparative study, conducted in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan, from January 2017 to December 2018. A total of 870 females were included through non-probability, purposive sampling. Informed verbal consent was obtained. Ultrasound was performed to measure the cyst size, site, and characteristics. The lottery method was used to divide the patients into two groups. Patients in group E received expectant treatment (placebo) and in group OC, patients were prescribed hormonal treatment with combined oral contraceptive (COCP) having ethinyl estradiol 0.03mg and levonorgestril 0.15mg. Then patients were counseled and followed up for one month. After one month, USG was performed again to measure success as cyst resolution. The collected data was analyzed into SPSS 16. Both groups were compared for success by using the chi-square test, taking p-value <0.05 as significant. Results: Mean age of females was 26.42±7.59 years. There were 488 (56%) married females while 382 (44%) were unmarried. Mean cyst size was 3.93±1.28cm. was achieved in 605 (69.5%) females, out of which 259 (59.5%) had expectant management while 346 (79.5%) had oral contraception. Success (Cyst resolution) was achieved in 605 (69.5%) females, out of which 259 (59.5%) had expectant management while 346 (79.5%) had oral contraception. (p=0.00). Conclusion: It was concluded that oral contraceptives are more effective and successful in the resolution of ovarian cysts as compared to expectant management.

‘Most women really actually do just appreciate being asked’: clinicians’ views on integrating sexual wellbeing into contraceptive care

A growing body of literature suggests that contraceptives’ impact on sexual experiences influences willingness to initiate and continue with a method. Little is known, however, about how clinicians engage with clients on this topic during contraceptive consultations. Fifteen clinicians in South Eastern Australia participated in semi-structured interviews between April and June 2019. Interviews were analysed using inductive, semantic thematic analysis. Participants varied in their evaluation and management of contraceptives’ sexual side effects and the legitimacy given to women’s bodily experience versus their own understanding of the evidence in the medical literature. We identified two distinct groups of clinicians: those who prioritised sexual wellbeing as a primary issue in contraceptive consultations and those who perceived sexual wellbeing as a secondary concern. The difference in practices was influenced by whether participants considered sexual wellbeing to be part of holistic care provision and their views on the clinician’s role in raising the topic. Strategies to equip clinicians to integrate sexual wellbeing into contraceptive consultations include interactive clinical training and incorporating information about sexual side effects into contraceptive guidelines and client resources. Benefits gained from normalising sexual wellbeing could extend beyond contraceptive care to help clinicians address clients’ sexual wellbeing in other contexts.

Contraception for Women With Psychiatric Disorders.

Mental health care for women includes decision support to prepare for major life events, including preconception planning for treatment during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The authors discuss contraceptive choices and their effectiveness, side effects, and impact on psychiatric symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations, Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, provided the structure for review of contraceptive choices. A search of PsycINFO, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus was conducted for publications on the management of contraception for women with mental illness. Publications were selected if they included, based on the authors' consensus, data supporting evidence-based care important for psychiatrists who treat women desiring contraceptives. The majority of women choose combined oral contraceptives. Although long-acting reversible contraceptives (implants, intrauterine devices) are associated with low failure rates, favorable safety profiles, rapid return to fertility after removal, and few contraindications, they are chosen by only 14% of women. All methods are acceptable for women with depression, although medical comorbidities may dictate a specific type. The impact of hormonal contraceptives on the risk for depression is controversial; however, clinical studies and randomized placebo-controlled trials of women with psychiatric disorders have generally reported similar or lower rates of mood symptoms in hormonal contraceptive users compared with nonusers. Although interactions between psychotropic drugs and contraceptives are rare, clozapine, anticonvulsants, and St. John's Wort are exceptions. Proactive management of mental illness, contraception, and pregnancy improves a woman's capacity to function and optimizes her mental and reproductive health.

Pregnancy in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Women with end-stage kidney disease commonly have difficulty conceiving through spontaneous pregnancy, and many suffer from infertility. Kidney transplantation restores the impairment in fertility and increases the possibility of pregnancy. In addition, the number of female kidney transplant recipients of reproductive age has been increasing. Thus, preconception counseling, contraceptive management, and family planning are of great importance in the routine care of this population. Pregnancy in kidney transplant recipients is complicated by underlying maternal comorbidities, kidney allograft function, the effect of pregnancy on the transplanted kidney, and the effect of the maternal health on the fetus, in addition to immunosuppressive medications and their potential teratogenesis. Given the potential maternal and fetal risks, and possible complications during pregnancy, pretransplant and prepregnancy counseling for women of reproductive age are crucial, including delivery of information regarding contraception and timing for pregnancy, fertility and pregnancy rates, the risk of immunosuppression on the fetus, the risk of kidney allograft, and other maternal complications. In this article, we discuss aspects related to pregnancy among kidney transplant recipients and their management.

Contraception for Women with Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common neurological disease in women worldwide, and more than 50% of women with epilepsy experience unplanned pregnancy. Effective contraception for women with epilepsy of childbearing potential is important, as many antiepileptic drugs interact with hormonal contraception and have the risk of teratogenicity. However, many clinicians and women with epilepsy have insufficient knowledge regarding proper contraception. This article reviews the interactions of antiepileptic drugs with hormonal contraception and offers practical recommendations for contraception management in women with epilepsy. Key words: Women with epilepsy; Contraception.

Non-surgical methods of regulation reproductive function and contraception males of domestic animals

The regulation of male reproductive function today is not limited to surgical castration; there are many other methods of controlling reproductive function. Non-surgical methods of controlling male reproductive function can be reversible and not reversible, i.e., reproductive function is preserved or completely suppressed. Castration of males or orchiectomy leads to irreversible sterility of the male, when the male completely loses the ability to reproduce. This operation can also entail some side effects: obesity, underdevelopment of the external genital organs, an increased risk of diabetes or hypothyroidism, problems with frequent urination and behavioral problems. Therefore, methods of non-surgical management of reproductive function and contraception in males are being actively developed. The article presents the latest methods of contraception and the management of the reproductive function of male domestic animals (cats, dogs): clinical application GnRH and agonists GnRH, Non-Peptide GnRH Antagonists, GnRH-Toxin Conjugate, GnRH Vaccines and other immune contraceptive vaccines, chemical sterilants for intratesticular injections, calcium chloride, zinc gluconate, chlorhexidine digluconate, hypertonic saline, sex steroids (progestines), gene silencing, kisspeptin and GnIH, targeting delivery of cytotoxins, single-dose hormonal male and female sterilianr, FSH – receptor ligand cytotoxin conjugates, Sperm Protein Reactive with Antisperm Antibodies (SPRASA) Reversible Inhibition of Sperm under Guidance(RISUG).

Evaluation of Senegal supply chain intervention on contraceptive stockouts using routine stock data.

BackgroundUntil 2011, stockouts of family planning commodities were common in Senegalese public health facilities. Recognizing the importance of addressing this problem, the Government of Senegal implemented the Informed Push Model (IPM) supply system, which involves logisticians to collect facility-level stock turnover data once a month and provide contraceptive supplies accordingly. The aims of this paper were to evaluate the impact of IPM on contraceptive availability and on stockout duration.Methods and findingsTo estimate the impact of the IPM on contraceptive availability, stock card data were obtained from health facilities selected through multistage sampling. A total number of 103 health facilities pertaining to 27 districts and nine regions across the country participated in this project. We compared the odds of contraceptive stockouts within the health facilities on the 23 months after the intervention with the 18 months before. The analysis was performed with a logistic model of the monthly time-series. The odds of stockout for any of the five contraceptive products decreased during the 23 months post-intervention compared to the 18 months pre-intervention (odds ratio, 95%CI: 0.34, 0.22–0.51).To evaluate the impact of the IPM on duration of stockouts, a mixed negative binomial zero-truncated regression analysis was performed. The IPM was not effective in reducing the duration of contraceptive stockouts (incidence rate ratio, 95%CI: 0.81, 0.24–2.7), except for the two long-acting contraceptives (intrauterine devices and implants). Our model predicted a decrease in stockout median duration from 23 pre- to 4 days post-intervention for intrauterine devices; and from 19 to 14 days for implants.ConclusionsWe conclude that the IPM has resulted in greater efficiency in contraceptive stock management, increasing the availability of contraceptive methods in health facilities in Senegal. The IPM also resulted in decreased duration of stockouts for intrauterine devices and implants, but not for any of the short-acting contraception (pills and injectables).

1391-P: Geographic Disparities in the Receipt of Reproductive Health Care among Young Women with Diabetes

We sought to examine disparities in realized access to guideline-recommended reproductive health services (e.g., preconception counseling) for young women with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) compared to peers without DM and to determine if/how such disparities varied by geography. We included over 1 million young women (ages 13-39) both with and without DM, using over 2 million person-years of data from Virginia’s All-Payer Claims Data (covering 40% of commercially and 95% of publicly insured people in the state) from 2016-2018. Multivariate regression modeled receipt of reproductive care by DM status and county of residence, adjusting for age, payer, race/ethnicity, and year. We identified 2.4 million visits for reproductive care (mean of 1.17 visits per person per year), including 657K for routine gynecological exams, 824K for contraception management, and 1.05M for STI screening and treatment. Compared to women with DM, those without DM had higher odds of receiving routine gynecological exams (OR:1.20, 95%CI: 1.18-1.22) and visits for contraceptive management (OR:1.05, 95%CI: 1.04-1.07); but among those receiving care, women with DM averaged slightly more visit per year (gynecological exam β=0.06, p<0.01; contraception management β=0.09, p<0.01). County-specific prevalence of DM ranged from 5% to 17% and DM prevalence was higher in smaller counties (pop<20K) compared to medium (20-100K) or large counties (pop>100K). Overall, there were no differences in receipt of reproductive care by DM status in large counties but disparities manifested for those living in medium and smaller counties. Differences by payer and race/ethnicity were also identified. Given the acute health threats for women with DM who do not receive appropriate preventive reproductive services, observed disparities are worrisome. As disparities were exacerbated in counties with the highest prevalence of DM, more work needs to be done to ensure equitable access to care in areas that have a higher disease burden. Disclosure L.E. Wisk: None. P.S. Nourbakhsh: None. L.N. Kransdorf: None. Funding National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (1K01DK116932-01 to L.E.W.); University of California, Los Angeles (to L.E.W.)

Preventing Premature Weaning: Management Options for Common Lactation Conditions, Including OMT

The benefits of breastfeeding are well established. The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that mothers breastfeed infants for at least one year, but most children are not breastfed that long because of many factors. Breastfeeding mothers face many challenges to continued breastfeeding, including medical conditions that arise during this period, such as postpartum depression and lactational mastitis. Because of a perceived lack of consistent guidance on medication safety, it can be difficult for the family physician to treat these conditions while encouraging mothers to continue breastfeeding. The purpose of the current review is to summarize and clarify treatment options for the osteopathic family physician treating lactating mothers. We specifically focus on the pharmacological management of contraception, postpartum depression, and lactational mastitis.

Study of Contraceptive Management in National Health Insurance Era at Central Java

Healthcare facilities partners of BPJS have not been synchronized with registered healthcare facilities. Empty stock of contraceptives, excessive storage of contraceptives, and disruption in distribution chain are still seen in the last three years. The purpose of this study was to identify issues related to the management of contraceptives (planning, acceptance and storage). The research used mixed method (quantitative and qualitative approach). The samples were 30 first-level healthcare facilities in Jepara and Wonosobo regencies. There was no planning at provincial level because contraceptive planning activities was regulated by the central health office. Planning of contraceptive requirement at regency/city level was conducted by provincial health office. The acceptance mechanism in the Province involved inventory officer while at health facilities it was performed by Family Planning program manager. Observation of storage rooms for contraceptive in Jepara found that there was no temperature recording device, excess stock of contraceptive injections and pills, absence of thermometer in the storage room, non-functional air conditioning, no separation between storage of hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptive, and there was no distance between pallet and the wall. Meanwhile, contraceptive storage space in Wonosobo has met the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

Confidentiality and Consent in the Care of the Adolescent Patient.

1. Sofya Maslyanskaya, MD* 2. Elizabeth M. Alderman, MD* 1. *Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital at Montefiore, and Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY * Abbreviations: CDC: : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention EHR: : electronic health record EOB: : explanation of benefits HIPAA: : Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act HIV: : human immunodeficiency virus SAHM: : Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine STD: : sexually transmitted disease Confidentiality protections are critical in the provision of comprehensive primary care of adolescent patients. The protections differ based on state laws and are limited by electronic health record documentation and billing operations of individual physician practices. Physicians need to strive to increase their knowledge regarding confidentiality protections for their adolescent patients. Moreover, physicians should understand their role in preventing possible confidentiality breaches. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Define confidentiality, its limitations, and reasons for developmentally appropriate confidentiality protections for adolescents. 2. Recognize confidentiality protections for adolescents provided by state and federal laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act privacy rule. 3. Explain minor consent laws. 4. Describe the limitations and advantages of the electronic health record in providing confidentiality protections. 5. Identify concerns and solutions related to billing for confidential services. A 16-year-old girl who has been your patient since birth presents to an appointment alone and requests testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). She also does not want her parents to find out about this visit. How would you proceed? ### Confidentiality and Autonomy The provision of confidentiality and the ability of adolescents to consent for certain health concerns are the cornerstone of optimal adolescent health-care. (1) According to this tenet, information about an adolescent’s health-care is not disclosed without his or her permission. Assurance of confidentiality is important to protect the adolescent’s health and to safeguard public health. The major causes of morbidity and mortality in adolescents are due to risky behaviors such as sexual activity and alcohol and substance use, as well as unmet mental health needs. During the past 3 decades, research has supported the importance of the …

High-Risk Medication Prescriptions in Primary Care for Women Without Documented Contraception.

During pregnancy, women may be exposed to teratogenic medications resulting in a risk of complications and poor maternal-fetal outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prescription of teratogenic medications in women of childbearing age and the associated prescription of contraception in the primary care setting. The use of high-risk, potentially teratogenic, medications was retrospectively evaluated in women of childbearing age (13 to 45 years old) at 2 family medicine practices. Charts were reviewed for medication use and whether patients received a form of birth control (medication, sterilization, or postmenopausal) with the teratogenic medications. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the age-adjusted association between receiving a teratogenic medication and contraception. A subgroup analysis excluding ondansetron was also performed. A total of 3,956 nonpregnant women were included with 988 (25%) prescribed at least 1 high-risk medication. The most commonly prescribed high-risk medications were ondansetron (n = 724, 73%) and lisinopril (n = 195, 20%). More than half (55%) of the women prescribed a high-risk medication were without a form of birth control. When ondansetron was excluded, 10% of the population was prescribed at least 1 high-risk medication with 62% also without a form of birth control. Women less than 25 years of age had decreased odds of receiving contraception when prescribed a teratogenic medication (adjusted odds ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.66). In a family medicine setting, 25% of women of childbearing age were prescribed a high-risk medication with over half not having evidence of contraception management. Interestingly, younger age women had lower odds of receiving contraceptive management when prescribed high-risk medications. Prescribers should be aware of and counsel on the risks of teratogenic medications and regularly evaluate reproductive plans for patients.

Risky Technologies: Systemic Uncertainty in Contraceptive Risk Assessment and Management

Focusing on the controversial birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin, this article explores how debates about the safety of these drugs have materialized in risk evaluations and the management of technological risk. Drawing on in-depth interviews with stakeholders and content analysis of legal, medical, and regulatory documents, I highlight how professional contraceptive risk assessment is characterized by systemic uncertainty and doubt, resulting in increased responsibility for users themselves to manage the drugs’ potentially increased risks of venous thromboembolism. The analysis centers on three key areas in the assessment process that denote disagreement: risk measurement in postmarket surveillance data, the distinctiveness of the drugs’ benefits when compared to other contraceptive technologies, and the weighing of the risks and benefits against each other. While professionals negotiate uncertainty both in epidemiological research and in clinical practice, users are constructed as agents who should manage risk individually. Such processes are underlined by a diffusion of responsibility in the systemic management of contraceptive risk. This article suggests, more broadly, that medical technologies can be conceptualized as artifacts that are instrumental in the dispersion of risks.

Birth Control Management for the Primary Care Provider

Contraceptive management is occurring more frequently in the primary care setting. Pediatricians should be familiar with the most common methods of contraception due to the fact that families are comfortable seeking care for their adolescents at the primary care office for these types of concerns. Contraceptive methods are often used for noncontraceptive benefits as well, which makes it even more important to feel comfortable prescribing contraceptives at pediatricians' offices. [Pediatr Ann. 2019;48(2):e51-e55.].