Contraceptive Technology Update – April 1, 2009
April 1, 2009
View Issues
-
Teen birth rate rises, reversing 14-year decline — What is behind the numbers?
Strides in lowering teen pregnancy rates have been reversed. The latest report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics shows that the teen birth rate increased in more than half of all 50 states in 2006, reversing a 14-year drop in numbers. -
Chlamydia rates up — Put screening into practice
Your next patient is a 16-year-old female who says she has a burning sensation when urinating. She has a steady boyfriend, but they have never discussed condom use. What is your next move? -
Emphasize long-acting reversible methods
Despite the safety and efficacy of the Copper T intrauterine device (ParaGard IUD, Barr Pharmaceuticals; Pomona, NY), the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (Mirena IUS, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals; Wayne, NJ), and the single-rod contraceptive implant (Implanon, Organon; Roseland, NJ), the most popular methods in the United States are oral contraceptives (OCs) and sterilization. -
Boost patient knowledge on Pap test importance
Cervical cancer, once one of the most common cancers affecting U.S. women, now ranks 14th in frequency among American women. Thanks to the introduction of the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear, the incidence of invasive cervical cancer has seen a dramatic drop. Between 1955 and 1992, U.S. cervical cancer incidence declined by 74%. -
Make the connection to online birth control
Thinking of new ways to reach out to patients? Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette (PPCW) in Portland, OR, has linked services to the Internet. -
Reach at-risk youth with rapid HIV tests
When it comes to HIV in the United States, young people are disproportionately at risk: An estimated 50% of new HIV infections occur among those under age 25.