Contraceptive Technology Update – January 1, 2024

Research Sheds Light on Depression, Cognitive Issues, and Hormonal Contraception

More research is needed to learn how hormonal contraceptives affect the brain — both cognition and depression. Recent studies suggest some actions that may be beneficial.

What Do We Need to Learn About Oral Contraceptives?

In this Q&A, Elizabeth Hampson, PhD, a professor in the department of psychology and core member of the graduate program in neuroscience at Western University in London, Canada, discussed what is needed in reproductive health research.

The ACA’s Contraceptive Mandate Is Failing to Ensure Free Access to LARC

The Affordable Care Act mandates employers and payers to provide free contraception, including long-acting reversible contraception. But the authors of a new study found that the proportion of people paying $0 for most contraceptive methods declined between 2014 and 2020.

Patients May Desire Contraception Even When Ambivalent About Pregnancy Within a Year

Asking patients about their pregnancy intention might not be the best barometer for whether they want contraception. New research revealed that women who had not had sex with a man in the last month or longer, women who said they wanted to become pregnant in the next year, and women who were ambivalent about preventing pregnancy also said they wanted contraception now.

Society of Family Planning Issues Clinical Recommendation for Medication Abortion

As maternity and OB/GYN deserts spread across the United States, medication abortion to expel the fetus and placenta from the uterus without a surgical procedure is possible and can work safely and well between 14 weeks and nearly 28 weeks of gestation. There are few absolute contraindications to medication abortion from 14 to 27 weeks of gestation, according to the Society of Family Planning and Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s new clinical recommendation.

Study: Pharmacist Prescribing of Contraceptives Not Working as Well as Intended

Although 20 states have passed policies to allow pharmacists to prescribe short-acting hormonal contraception, these services are not used much, new research suggests.