Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have found that IUDs and implant counseling to “dramatically” reduce the number of unintended pregnancies over the course of a year, according to a new study.
In the study, which was conducted by UCSF researchers in association with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the researchers trained healthcare workers on how to counsel young women on the benefits of intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants, Medical News Today reported.
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) — small, often T-shaped contraceptive devices containing either copper or levonorgestrel — and contraceptive implants, which are also known as long-active reversible contraceptives or LARCs, have proven themselves to be more effective than condoms and birth control pills, however, regardless of their safety and high rate of efficacy, they are not routinely included in contraceptive counseling by healthcare providers.
The study, which was published in the journal The Lancet, marks the first randomized trial of a clinic-based intervention intended to address the issue of accidental pregnancies in the United States.
Less than 1 percent of women utilizing LARCs in pregnancy prevention become pregnant over the course of a year; this in comparison to 9 percent of women on the pill and 18 percent of women whose male partners use condoms.
Dr. Carolyn Westhoff, senior medical advisor at the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, was quoted by Medical News Today as having said that the study shows just “how important it is that women’s health care providers have full information about available birth control methods and are trained to provide all of these methods to patients at the same visit.”
This study shows how important it is that women’s health care providers have full information about available birth control methods and are trained to provide all of these methods to patients at the same visit. It’s one very important part of making sure that women can have the birth control of their choosing – without any barriers.
In other news, the Obama administration announced back in May of this year that insurance companies are now required to accept all forms of federally approved methods of birth control for women.
