The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 122, Issue 6 , Pages 497-506, June 2009

Helping Women Choose Appropriate Hormonal Contraception: Update on Risks, Benefits, and Indications

  • Abby L. Spencer, MD, MS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pa
    • Corresponding Author InformationRequests for reprints should be addressed to Abby L. Spencer, MD, MS, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, 320 East North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
    • ,
  • Rachel Bonnema, MD, MS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha
    • ,
  • Megan C. McNamara, MD, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

Abstract 

Primary care physicians frequently provide contraceptive counseling to women who are interested in family planning, have medical conditions that may be worsened by pregnancy, or have medical conditions that necessitate the use of potentially teratogenic medications. Effective counseling requires up-to-date knowledge about hormonal contraceptive methods that differ in hormone dosage, cycle length, and hormone-free intervals and are delivered by oral, transdermal, transvaginal, injectable, or implantable routes. Effective counseling also requires an understanding of a woman's preferences and medical history as well as the risks, benefits, side effects, and contraindications of each contraceptive method. This article is designed to update physicians on this information.

Keywords: Contraception, Contraception counseling, Contraceptive choice, Women's health

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 Funding: None.

 Conflict of Interest: None.

 Authorship: Each author was involved in the conception, design, and the writing of the manuscript, and approved the submitted version of the manuscript.

PII: S0002-9343(09)00106-5

doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.01.016

The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 122, Issue 6 , Pages 497-506, June 2009

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