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Contraceptive Methods
| 1. |
Implants: The Next Generation
Population Reports
Description:
Family planning programs around the world are introducing the new one- or two-rod implant systems Implanon®, Jadelle®, and in some countries Sino-Implant (II)®. By 2008 Norplant®, the six-capsule See More
Family planning programs around the world are introducing the new one- or two-rod implant systems Implanon®, Jadelle®, and in some countries Sino-Implant (II)®. By 2008 Norplant®, the six-capsule implant system, first introduced in mid-1980s, will no longer be available. Like Norplant, the new implants are highly effective, and like Norplant, they alter bleeding patterns. Their most important improvement over Norplant is easier and quicker insertion and removal. Sino-Implant (II) may also cost much less than other implants. The new implants are recommended for as much as three to five years of use, depending on the make. Thus they are particularly suitable for women who want to space births. Indeed, for many women implants are a convenient method. Once inserted into a woman's arm, the implants do not require any action by the user. Since implants do not contain estrogen, they do not decrease production of breast milk and thus are suitable for breastfeeding women. They are also a good choice for women who do not want more children but are not ready to opt for sterilization, which is permanent. With new implants making the method easier to provide, more programs may want to begin offering implants. Programs currently offering Norplant will need to consider how to make the transition to the newer implants and to meet possibly greater demand. (excerpt) See Less
Published: 2007
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 2. |
Implants: Tools for Providers
INFO Reports
Description:
Women consider effectiveness the most important factor when they choose a contraceptive method, but also consider side effects and safety. Counseling helps a woman decide if a method suits her needs, See More
Women consider effectiveness the most important factor when they choose a contraceptive method, but also consider side effects and safety. Counseling helps a woman decide if a method suits her needs, preferences, and current situation. This reports provides checklists and tables to help the family planning provider to: 1) counsel clients about implants; 2) identify women who may not be able to use implants for medical reasons; 3) review the steps for appropriate infection prevention during insertion and removal of implants; 4) counsel women about changes in monthly bleeding; 5) review the insertion and removal steps for new implants; and 6) answer questions about implants. (excerpt) See Less
Published: 2007
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 3. |
Expanding Services for Injectables
Population Reports
Description:
More and more women are using injectable contraceptives today, and very likely even more will use this method in the future as it becomes increasingly available. Women choose injectables because they See More
More and more women are using injectable contraceptives today, and very likely even more will use this method in the future as it becomes increasingly available. Women choose injectables because they are effective, long-lasting, and private. For family planning programs, meeting increasing demand while maintaining good quality will be the key to success with injectables. Between 1995 and 2005 the number of women worldwide using injectable contraceptives more than doubled. About 12 million married women used injectables in 1995. In 2005 over 32 million were using injectables. Injectables are the fourth most popular method worldwide, after female sterilization, the intrauterine device (IUD), and oral contraceptives. In sub-Saharan Africa, injectables are the most popular method, chosen by 38% of women using modern methods. By 2015 worldwide use is projected to reach nearly 40 million--more than triple the 1995 level. Greater access largely explains this rapid growth in use. Approval of the progestin-only injectable DMPA (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate) in the United States in 1992 removed a constraint to access and a source of controversy in many countries over providing a drug that was not approved for contraception in the United States. Also, approval in the United States enabled the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to supply DMPA to developing countries. As of 2006 DMPA was registered in 179 countries, an increase from 106 countries in 1995. Several countries, including Ghana, Vietnam, and Zambia are introducing or scaling up DMPA services as part of a package of reproductive or primary health care services. (excerpt) See Less
Published: 2006
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 4. |
Injectable Contraceptives: Tools for Providers
INFO Reports
Description:
More than twice as many women are using injectable contraceptives today as a decade ago, and the numbers keep growing. Women choose injectables because they are highly effective, long-acting, See More
More than twice as many women are using injectable contraceptives today as a decade ago, and the numbers keep growing. Women choose injectables because they are highly effective, long-acting, reversible, and private. At the same time many women do not choose injectables or stop using them because of side effects--particularly irregular bleeding, no monthly bleeding, and weight gain--or because they have trouble returning for injections. Family planning programs are meeting increasing demand while helping providers to maintain good quality of care. Attention to quality, and to counseling especially, can be the difference between successful and unsuccessful efforts to expand access to injectables. Using the tools in this report, providers can 1) Counsel about injectables or answer clients' questions; 2) Identify women who may not be able to use DMPA or NET-EN for medical reasons; 3) Be reasonably sure that a woman is not pregnant before giving the first injection; 4) Review the steps required to give an injection safely; and 5) Help women be informed and satisfied continuing users of injectables. (excerpt) See Less
Published: 2006
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 5. |
New Attention to the IUD
Population Reports
Description:
Modern intrauterine devices (IUDs) are safe, effective, and quickly reversible long-term contraceptives that require little attention after insertion. Yet safety concerns and programmatic challenges See More
Modern intrauterine devices (IUDs) are safe, effective, and quickly reversible long-term contraceptives that require little attention after insertion. Yet safety concerns and programmatic challenges have held back IUD services in many countries. New assessment of research findings, recently translated into guidance by the World Health Organization, should help reassure providers that most women can use IUDs safely. (excerpt) See Less
Published: 2006
Format: Pamphlet
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 6. |
New Contraceptive Choices
Population Reports
Description:
Family planning users and providers have been calling for more choices. They want contraceptive methods that provide highly effective protection and at the same time cause fewer side effects, cost See More
Family planning users and providers have been calling for more choices. They want contraceptive methods that provide highly effective protection and at the same time cause fewer side effects, cost less, and are easier to use. In response, researchers are improving existing contraceptives and developing new ways to deliver hormones. Offering a wide range of safe, effective, and convenient family planning methods encourages more people to use contraception. Having more choices helps ensure that users are satisfied with their family planning method. Most new methods reaching the market today result from investments made years ago. Virtually all methods undergo a long process of research and rigorous testing for safety and effectiveness and must obtain regulatory approvals before becoming available. (excerpt) See Less
Published: 2005
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 7. |
Helping Women Use The Pill
Population Reports
Description:
Around the world over 100 million women rely on oral contraceptives (OCs). They benefit from the effectiveness, safety, and convenience of the pill. Still, many women do not use the pill as See More
Around the world over 100 million women rely on oral contraceptives (OCs). They benefit from the effectiveness, safety, and convenience of the pill. Still, many women do not use the pill as successfully as possible. Programs can help women use OCs effectively. When taken properly, the pill is a highly effective contraceptive. Oral contraceptives are unique among family planning methods, however: Their full effectiveness requires the user's daily action. In part because some women have trouble taking the pill correctly, pregnancy rates are usually much higher than if the pill were used perfectly. For combined OCs the perfect-use pregnancy rate is estimated at only 0.1 per 100 women in the first 12 months of use. In actual use pregnancy rates range from 1.7 to 10.5 pregnancies per 100 women in the first 12 months in 21 surveyed countries. Better pill use would make a big difference. Based on worldwide levels of pill use in 2000, for example, over 2 million women become pregnant unintentionally each year because they do not take the pill effectively. Also, women would be healthier, and medical costs would be less, since complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and unsafe abortion are among the leading causes of women's ill health and death in developing countries. (excerpt) See Less
Published: 2000
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 8. |
Oral Contraceptives -- An Update
Population Reports
Description:
This paper reports developments in oral contraceptives (OCs). Four decades after the introduction of the pill, it was observed that more women than ever are using it. It became the top modern family See More
This paper reports developments in oral contraceptives (OCs). Four decades after the introduction of the pill, it was observed that more women than ever are using it. It became the top modern family planning method among married women because of its benefits. In fact, it is most popularly used among married women in Western Europe in contrast with those in China, India, and Japan. Since this method is widely used, it deserves continuing attention from health care programs, providers, and researchers. In this paper, the health benefits and risks of OCs, including emergency contraceptive pills, are discussed. Attention is also given to unresolved health issues associated with the use of OCs, particularly to the association between OC use and neoplasia of the cervix and breast. See Less
Published: 2000
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 9. |
Closing the Condom Gap
Population Reports
Description:
Consistent condom use by nonmonogamous sex partners could protect millions of people from HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and reduce the enormous costs associated with See More
Consistent condom use by nonmonogamous sex partners could protect millions of people from HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and reduce the enormous costs associated with STDs. Condom use needs to increase to about 15 billion/year (from 8-10 billion/year) to prevent STDs. An estimated 33 million people live with HIV/AIDS worldwide, and an estimated 16,000 people are infected with the virus each day. In 12 out of 15 countries surveyed, more than 75% of never-married men have changed their sex behavior in response to HIV/AIDS. While condom use remains low within marriages (approximately 7%), some married couples use condoms in combination with another contraceptive. Recent surveys of sexually active, unmarried people have found rates of condom use of 2-17% among African women, 7-50% among African men, <1-36% among Latin American women, and 27-64% among Latin American men. Many unmarried, sexually active people continue to practice risky sex behavior--even when they know about STDs and condoms--because of mistaken beliefs that they are not at risk and/or because social norms discourage condom use and encourage high-risk male sex behavior. Traditional gender roles and fear of violent reactions inhibit women from talking about sex with their partners or negotiating condom use. Promotion, advocacy, communication campaigns, and counseling can change social norms and inform people about risks. Governments must help close the condom gap by adopting policies that make condoms widely available and universally accepted. Donors must also provide adequate funds and technical assistance to meet this challenge. See Less
Published: 1999
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 10. |
Guide to Norplant Counseling
Population Reports
Description:
This Guide to Norplant Counseling will help you, the family planning provider, tell your clients about Norplant. It also will enable you to help your clients decide if Norplant is the best method for See More
This Guide to Norplant Counseling will help you, the family planning provider, tell your clients about Norplant. It also will enable you to help your clients decide if Norplant is the best method for them. Of course, other family planning methods should be offered along with Norplant, and the client should make the choice. Counseling is a step-by-step discussion between you (the provider) and the client. Counseling helps the client choose and use the family planning method that best suits the client's needs. The letters in the word GATHER stand for the steps in counseling. G=Greet clients. A=Ask clients about themselves. T=Tell clients about all available methods. H=Help clients choose a method. E=Explain how to use that method R=Return for follow-up should be planned. (excerpt) See Less
Published: 1992
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 11. |
Quick Guide to Vasectomy: New Opportunities
Population Reports
Description:
The rapid guide to vasectomies is an aid for medical personnel to provide information about vasectomies. Vasectomies are a family-planning method for men which are rapid, safe, and reversible. See More
The rapid guide to vasectomies is an aid for medical personnel to provide information about vasectomies. Vasectomies are a family-planning method for men which are rapid, safe, and reversible. Vasectomies are not castration and men continue to have active sex lives. The guide contains questions to ask the man about his family life and family planning, and about special health conditions to determine whether a vasectomy is appropriate. The procedure, in which two holes are cut in the scrotum and both vas deferens are cut, takes about 20 minutes. Immediately after a vasectomy, a man should not lift heavy object for 2-3 days, and should rest at home the next day. He should contact health care personnel if certain warning signs appear as well as for the follow-up visit. See Less
Published: 1992
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 12. |
Vasectomy: New Opportunities
Population Reports
Description:
This report examines how timely developments have opened up opportunities for promoting vasectomy, an extremely effective but rarely used family planning method. One of the safest and most effective See More
This report examines how timely developments have opened up opportunities for promoting vasectomy, an extremely effective but rarely used family planning method. One of the safest and most effective contraceptive methods, vasectomy involves a single minor surgical procedure that usually takes no more than 10 minutes. There is little risk of complications involved with this permanent contraceptive method, and the procedure has no long-term effects on the man's health or sexual performance. Despite the great advantages offered by this method, only 42 million couples worldwide rely on vasectomy, compared to nearly 140 million who rely on female sterilization. Vasectomy is a major family planning method in only 6 developed countries and 3 developing countries. Recent developments, however, offer hope of increasing the use of vasectomy. The first section of the report examines improved vasectomy techniques, principally the no-scalpel vasectomy. This new technique makes a safe procedure even safer. With the no-scalpel vasectomy, there is little or no bleeding, fewer infections, less postoperative pain, and just as effective contraception. The second section considers data that shows that increasing the availability of vasectomy services especially high-quality services--does attracts clients. Studies have shown that high quality services must be conveniently located, designed to make men feel comfortable, staffed by well-trained personnel, and supported by good counseling. As section 3 explains, mass-media publicity and person-to-person communication can greatly increase the use of vasectomy services. The report concludes with current information concerning the worldwide, regional, and country use of vasectomy services. See Less
Published: 1992
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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| 13. |
Voluntary Female Sterilization: Number One and Growing
Population Reports
Description:
Around 16% of all married women of reproductive age (MWRA) in the world have voluntarily undergone female sterilization which equals about 1'38 million women (123 million in developing countries). See More
Around 16% of all married women of reproductive age (MWRA) in the world have voluntarily undergone female sterilization which equals about 1'38 million women (123 million in developing countries). Moreover, it has increased 45% since 1984. Researchers estimate that the number of women wishing to be sterilized in developing countries will increase an additional 67 million by 2000. Thus female sterilization is the leading family planning (FP) method in the world. Indeed it leads the list of FP methods used in at least 20 countries. It is also 1 of the fastest growing methods. Expanding safe, efficient, and convenient services, especially in developing countries, is the major reason it is the fastest growing method. In Kenya, for example, female sterilization grew rapidly from about 68 women in 1982 to >11,000 women in 1990. IN 1982, physicians at only 2 hospitals in Kenya performed female sterilization, but by 1990, health providers performed them at least 50 sites (not including providers in private practice). Of developed countries, female sterilization is most prevalent (23% of MWRA) and growing the fastest in the US. A challenge for FP programs is to continue providing safe, high quality services to all women wanting to undergo female sterilization. They must also assure voluntarism and informed choice. FP programs should use all channels of communication, especially the mass media, to clearly and accurately inform the public females sterilization. They should also have well trained staff who can counsel clients objectively and empathetically. Health practitioners should minimize risks by using local anesthesia. They should also be able to perform sterilization in as many places possible for as many women possible thus making sterilization accessible to all women who want it. Finally, health professionals must undergo special training and be monitored and supervised frequently. See Less
Published: 1990
Cost: Free for developing countries; all others $2.00
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