Module VI: Contraception
Module Review Information
The resources in this module were reviewed by Valerie French, MD, MAS, and Antoinette Nguyen, MD, MPH in Spring 2025.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the mechanisms of action and efficacy and effectiveness of contraceptive methods.
- Use the US Medical Eligibility Criteria to evaluate eligibility for the use of contraceptives among people with specific medical conditions or characteristics.
- Apply the US Selected Practice Recommendations for initiation of contraception and management of common problems.
- Provide person-centered and evidence-based contraceptive counseling, including postpartum and post-abortion contraception.
Articles
All Birth Control Options | Types Of Birth Control | Learn More. Bedsider. Accessed June 2025.
https://www.bedsider.org/birth-control
Contraceptive Technology. Accessed June 2025.
Charts only:
-
Contraceptive Effectiveness Categories
https://contraceptivetechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/contraceptive-effectiveness-chart.png
-
Percentage of Users Becoming Pregnant During the First Year of Contraceptive Use
https://contraceptivetechnology.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1st-Year-Pregnancies.png
US Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024 (US MEC) | CDC. Published November 19, 2024. Accessed June 2025.
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/mmwr/mec/summary.html
US Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024) | CDC. Published November 19, 2024. Accessed June 2025.
https://www.cdc.gov/contraception/hcp/usspr/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/mmwr/spr/summary.html
Sonalkar S, Mody, S. Contraception: Postpartum counseling and methods. Accessed June 2025.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/contraception-postpartum-counseling-and-methods
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Practice Bulletins—Gynecology. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 208: Benefits and Risks of Sterilization.
Obstet Gynecol
. 2019;133(3):e194-e207. doi:
10.1097/AOG.0000000000003111
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Committee Statement No. 1 February 2022. Patient-Centered Contraceptive Counseling.
https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-statement/articles/2022/02/patient-centered-contraceptive-counseling
Turok, D. Emergency contraception. Accessed June 2025.
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/emergency-contraception?search=Emergency%20Contraception&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~145&usage_type=default&display_rank=1
Trending Topics
CDC team that updated go-to physician reference on contraceptive science is fired. Accessed June 3, 2025.
https://www.science.org/content/article/cdc-team-updated-go-physician-reference-contraceptive-science-fired
McShane J. Mass HHS firings gutted “vital” office for reproductive health. Mother Jones. Accessed June 3, 2025.
Inside the “Vital” Office for Reproductive Health Gutted by Mass HHS Firings
Creinin MD, Gawron LM, Roe AH, Blumenthal PD, Boraas CM, Hou MY, McNicholas C, Schreifels MJ, Peters K, Culwell K, Turok DK; Copper 175mm(2) IUD Phase 3 Clinical Investigator Group. Three-year efficacy, safety, and tolerability outcomes from a phase 3 study of a low-dose copper intrauterine device. Contraception. 2025 Mar;143:110771. doi:
10.1016/j.contraception.2024.110771
. Epub 2024 Nov 22. PMID: 39581486.
Supplemental Resources
Horvath S, Schreiber CA, Sonalkar S. Contraception. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, et al., eds.
Endotext
. MDText.com, Inc.; 2000. Accessed April 25, 2025.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279148/
Note: See six-question, supplemental quiz on the above Horvath, et al. article.
Daniels K, Abma J. Current Contraceptive Status Among Women Aged 15–49: United States, 2017–2019.
National Center for Health Statistics
. 2020;(388).
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db388.htm
Gavin L. Update: Providing Quality Family Planning Services — Recommendations from CDC and the U.S. Office of Population Affairs, 2015.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep
. 2016;65. doi:
10.15585/mmwr.mm6509a3
Quick Start Algorithm. Reproductive Health Access Project. Accessed April 25, 2025.
Bryant AG, Lyerly AD, DeVane-Johnson S, Kistler CE, Stuebe AM. Hormonal Contraception, Breastfeeding and Bedside Advocacy: The Case for Patient-centered Care.
Contraception
. 2019;99(2):73-76. doi:
10.1016/j.contraception.2018.10.011