Selecting an effective, safe and convenient contraceptive regimen

1.0 CME/CE Credit

Symposium held November 2008 at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California. Supported by an independent educational grant from Ortho Women’s Health and Urology and Organon, a part of Schering-Plough.

Presenters

	Kurt T. Barnhart, MD, MSCE Associate Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Epidemiology University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
	Anita L. Nelson MD Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology David Geffen School of Medicine University of California (UCLA) Los Angeles, California

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Men and women desiring contraception, either alone or as couples, must select either an irreversible or a reversible method of preventing pregnancy. Irreversible contraception in males typically involves surgical or chemical occlusion of the vas deferens. Irreversible contraception in women typically involves occlusion of the fallopian tubes. For those whose life circumstances dictate the necessity of reversing their “irreversible” sterilization, advances in surgical technique have made the reversal of surgical sterilization possible, though with variable success. Thus, men and women worldwide have turned to temporary, or reversible, approaches to prevention of pregnancy, such as timing intercourse to avoid the “fertile” period of a woman’s menstrual cycle, e.g., rhythm, or barriers to sperm transport, e.g., condoms. Although these approaches are virtually free of physical risk, their use often is imperfect resulting in variable efficacy. Convenience, cost, availability and side effects are the factors paramount in the selection of and adherence to a contraceptive method.

Physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals often receive only cursory training in contraceptive medicine and family planning counseling. In recent years, new delivery systems and new regimens for hormonal contraceptive agents have been developed to improve adherence and minimize potential adverse events. New methods of hormonal contraception require careful assessment of efficacy, safety, convenience, cost and availability. The advent of new delivery systems and extended dosing regimens has brought a resurgence of public scrutiny of hormonal contraception in general with attention focused on possible side effects. All forms of contraception have risks and benefits. It is necessary for the prescribing healthcare professional to balance the short- and long-term risks with the convenience, cost and availability to the patient.

This program will provide specialists in reproductive medicine, family planning and gynecology with a broad overview of the efficacy, safety, convenience and adherence profiles for currently utilized hormonal contraceptives.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this activity, participants should be able to:

1. Compare the short- and long-term risks and benefits, convenience, cost and availability of various hormonal contraceptive methods.
2. Prescribe contraception that is tailored to patients’ particular life circumstances in order to maximize continuation of contraceptive use.

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1.0 CME/CE credit available
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1.0 CME/CE credit available
Start date: December 21, 2008
Expiration date: December 22, 2009

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.^TM

All speakers were required to complete a disclosure of commercial and financial relationships with manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, laboratory supplies, or medical devices and with commercial providers of medically related services. These disclosures were reviewed and potential conflicts of interest resolved by the Subcommittee on Standards of Commercial Support of the Continuing Medical Education Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The disclosures are listed in the presentations.

Sexuality, Reproduction & Menopause © 2008 Quadrant HealthCom Inc.