Recent Advances in Contraception

Article, Refereed Journal
Aiken, A.R.A., Trussell, J. (2014). Recent Advances in Contraception. F1000Prime Reports, 6: 113. PMC4251416

pFocusing on intrauterine contraceptives (IUC), contraceptive implants, and emergency contraceptives,nbsp;we review recent advances in contraceptive development and discuss progress in policies to improvenbsp;access to the most effective methods. We report on the shift in practice towards routinely providingnbsp;IUCs and implants to young and nulliparous women, prompted in part by the reduced diameter of thenbsp;insertion tube for the Mirena IUC and the development of a smaller IUC called Skyla. Additionally, wenbsp;describe the new SCu300A intrauterine ball and the development of an implant called Nexplanon, whichnbsp;comes with a preloaded inserter.We also discuss the efficacy of ulipristal acetate versus levonorgestrelnbsp;for emergency contraception, especially for women who weigh more than 75 kg. Finally, in light of thenbsp;increasing interest in providing IUCs and implants to women in the immediate postpartum and postabortionnbsp;periods, we consider the rationale for this change in practice and review the progress that hasnbsp;been made so far in the United States./p

Research Topic
Health Care and Health Policy