Contraceptive Technology Update – January 1, 2026

Hormonal IUDs Work Well for Emergency Contraception and Treating Bleeding Issues

Clinicians are increasingly aware of strong evidence for using levonorgestrel intrauterine devices for treating some gynecological issues and for emergency contraception.

Most Permanent Contraception Procedures Are Performed Postpartum

Among the 600,000 permanent contraception procedures performed in the United States each year, most procedures are performed postpartum,
including after cesarean deliveries.

Counseling About Postpartum Contraception Can Be Improved

New research suggests clinicians can do a better job of counseling patients on the risks and benefits of postpartum contraception, including permanent contraception procedures. One paper finds that postpartum decision-making is an ongoing process, and providers can support mothers’ individual preferences and personal factors related to social, economic, and historical forces that affect their decision-making.

Location May Affect Patients’ Requests for Sexual Health Testing

A new study that looks at how state-level confidentiality mandates affect human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted infection testing among high school students found that youth were more likely to be tested in states with confidentiality mandates.

Family Planning Empowerment Varies by Community, Nation, and Culture

Evidence has found that education and family planning provide long-term benefits to maternal and child health outcomes and the largest returns on investment. But there are fewer data on how much family planning contributes to women’s empowerment and greater agency.

Clinicians Increasingly Face Legal Barriers to Prescribing Abortion Medication

Both the war on drugs and anti-abortion laws facilitate economic exploitation of marginalized communities, and healthcare providers also are at risk of legal repercussions and/or of having their patients’ medical data used to support criminal investigations, a new paper says.