Contraceptive Technology Update – October 1, 2023

Study: Family Planning Services Need Better Integration in Primary Care

There is a growing need for primary care providers to integrate family planning services into their practices, particularly in rural areas and other places where there is no access to OB/GYNs and family planning centers.

LARC Initiative for Teens Leads to 36% Decrease in Pregnancy Rate

A 2016 Kaiser Permanente Northern California initiative improved adolescent access to a long-acting reversible contraceptive through patient education resources, protocols, and insertion training for pediatric, family medicine, and gynecology providers.

Research Shows Need for Better Person-Centered Care

Reproductive healthcare is moving toward a more holistic understanding of reproductive autonomy. It is no longer just about pregnancy intention. As a new study shows, a better goal is to provide a nondirective conversation about the patient’s desire to parent and to assess how important it is for them to prevent pregnancy.

3D Contraceptive Ring Technology Holds Promise for HIV Prevention

The results of recent research suggest it is possible that women could have access to an intravaginal ring that can serve both as a contraceptive and as HIV prevention. The ring would be created through 3D printing technology. So far, it has been tested for safety in sheep, and it could be several years before clinical trials are underway.