1. Liletta now FDA approved for 6 years
LILETTA, a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) with 52mg of LNG, was originally approved by the FDA in 2015. Since then, the makers of LILETTA have continued to apply for and receive FDA approval for extended use. In October 2019, the FDA extended approval to six years of use based on research that shows that LILETTA is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy in all types of users. This means LILETTA has the longest approved duration of any LNG-IUD in the United States. This is exciting news for both patients and providers, as it further enhances the convenience of long-acting reversible contraception and provides users with increased flexibility and autonomy over their reproductive choices. Bedsider Providers has more information about this change and how to counsel patients here.
2. Does ulipristal acetate emergency contraception (ella®) interfere with implantation?
3. Mechanisms involved in the contraceptive effects of ulipristal acetate
Ulipristal acetate (UPA), also known as ella, is a highly effective emergency contraceptive pill that primarily works by delaying ovulation and is more effective than levonorgestrel EC for people who weigh between 165 and 195 pounds. UPA is a selective progesterone receptor modulator meaning it has the potential to also interfere with implantation and current UPA FDA-approved labeling includes the phrase that “it may also work by preventing implantation to the uterus.” Because people may have concerns about the religious or philosophical implications of this mechanism, it has become important to clarify the action of ulipristal acetate. The first of these two studies, published in Contraception, is a review of the available evidence on UPA and its effect on the embryo and endometrium. They found that it is not possible to state that UPA never has an effect on implantation, but it seems extremely unlikely based on both animal and human research. The second study this month, published in Reproduction, on UPA’s mechanism of action found that UPA does not have a role in altering sperm function or the ability of sperm to fertilize an egg, nor does it have any negative effect on early embryo development. In their review of mouse models and human genetic studies, they concluded that UPA may interfere with implantation of a fertilized egg by affecting endometrial development.
To put these two findings in context—while some basic science research suggests that it is possible for UPA to affect implantation of a fertilized egg, no human studies have clearly documented that effect. While researchers continue to investigate UPA’s theoretical effects on implantation, providers can provide clear and accurate information to patients about UPA’s primary mechanism of delaying ovulation and the theoretical, although not proven, possibility of interfering with implantation.
4. Quantifying the impact of targeted regulation of abortion provider laws on US abortion rates: a multi-state assessment
TRAP (Targeted Regulation of Abortion Provider) laws are medically unnecessary rules or standards for abortion providers that reduce access to abortion by creating regulations that are burdensome or impossible to meet, such as building requirements. This study compared abortion rates in states with TRAP laws to rates in “control” states who do not have these restrictions. The researchers used data from the Guttmacher Institute regarding abortion rates from 1991 to 2014 and found that while there was an overall decline in abortion rates, the states with TRAP laws did not have a statistically significant change in abortion rate when compared to states without TRAP laws. These findings do not reflect the difficulties or obstacles that providers and patients may experience, but they do suggest that state-specific laws have not significantly changed abortion rates. However, further research is needed to provide a clear picture of the hardships created by TRAP laws and to determine whether overall changes in abortion rates are due to these legislative hurdles.
5. Healthcare Costs for Abortions Performed in Ambulatory Surgery Centers vs. Office-based Settings
An example of a TRAP law currently affecting 13 states in the US, are requirements that some or all abortions are performed in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) instead of the office-based setting that many abortion providers currently use and have been proven safe. This retrospective cohort study used an insurance claim database to compare the cost of providing an abortion in an ASC to the cost of the same procedure in an office-based setting between 2011 and 2014, including the costs of a follow-up visit. They found that abortions in ASCs were significantly more expensive, with an increased cost of $770 when controlling for other factors, but patients were not more likely to follow up in these centers. These findings suggest that changes in laws related to abortion setting are likely to cause a significant cost increase without improving patient safety.
6. Intracervical block for levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system placement among nulligravid women: a randomized double-blind controlled trial
IUDs can be used by most people with a uterus, but fear of pain during insertion may prevent some people from choosing them, particularly nulliparous people. Methods to decrease pain with IUD insertion, like ibuprofen or paracervical block, have been studied but there is less information about intracervical block. Intracervical blocks are an injection of lidocaine directly into the cervix which is easy to replicate. This randomized, double-blind study from Brazil examined pain perception of nulliparous patients upon tenaculum placement and insertion of LNG-IUD with an intracervical lidocaine block. Findings showed that patients who received the block had less pain upon tenaculum placement and IUD insertion, and overall had a more positive experience. However, intracervical block did not increase ease of IUD insertion for providers. Overall, researchers recommend consideration of an intracervical block when counseling patients who may have concerns about pain with IUD insertion.
7. ACOG Committee Opinion: Over the Counter Access to Hormonal Contraception
This updated Committee Opinion (No. 788) explains ACOG’s supports for over-the-counter access to all types of pills, the patch, the ring, and the shot. This Committee Opinion reviews the literature supporting this statement, specifically that increased access to contraception will benefit people who need it by reducing barriers to care, and that many people would be likely to use this service. There is additional evidence that people are able to self-screen for contraindications to estrogen-containing contraception, such as smoking or migraines with aura, so this should not be a reason to require a face-to-face visit. They also emphasized that health screenings such as Pap smears and breast exams should not be a prerequisite for birth control. ACOG acknowledges a step towards the goal of OTC access for these methods of contraception may be pharmacist-provided contraception, but their support is an important first step towards achieving this goal.
8. Telemedicine for medication abortion
People living in many geographic areas of the US may face limited access to abortion providers. Access to medication abortion via telemedicine has the potential to reduce barriers to abortion care for people who have limited geographic access to abortion services. The authors reviewed the documented safety of telemedicine for medication abortion and noted that rates of efficacy and adverse events are approximately equivalent to traditional clinic-based models for providing medication abortion. Patients who accessed medication abortions via telemedicine report high rates of satisfaction with these models. The availability of telemedicine medication abortion may allow women to terminate pregnancies at earlier gestational ages as they can avoid waiting for appointments or traveling long distances. Furthermore, for patients with sure gestational dating and low risk for ectopic pregnancy, recent research has shown that foregoing pre-procedure ultrasound or blood type testing may not negatively affect patient safety. While state-level legislation regarding telemedicine may still create barriers, this new model of care may provide significantly improved access to abortion services while not compromising patient care.
9. The effects of the dependent coverage provision on young women's utilization of sexual and reproductive health services.
With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), young people are now able to continue as dependents on their parents’ insurance until the age of 26. The authors investigated if this change would negatively affect young adults’ use of sensitive reproductive health care services, such as birth control counseling and services as well as STI testing because of privacy concerns. By comparing the use of these services before and after the passage of the ACA, the authors found that while the likelihood of the study population being uninsured decreased after the ACA, utilization of reproductive health services did not significantly change. In fact, Hispanic women were more likely to receive birth control prescriptions or testing related to contraception after implementation of the ACA. This demonstrates that the inclusion of young people on their parents’ insurance plans does not appear to have decreased their access to or use of important reproductive health services.
