Birth Control

A printable decision aid for quickly aligning contraceptive options with patient priorities.

An 18-year-old (she/her) started a combined hormonal contraceptive pill (COC) three months ago, prescribed by her primary care provider. She’s been taking a pill with 0.15 mg levonorgestrel/30 mcg EE. She’s now following up with you because she’s been feeling moodier since starting the pill. She’s not totally sure if the pill is to blame, but says it’s affecting her quality of life and she’s interested in talking about other options.

A 24 year-old patient (she/her) comes into clinic. During the visit, she expresses interest in starting on a hormonal implant. She was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) six months ago and is currently taking hydroxychloroquine. The patient reports no history of low platelets, but she doesn’t know her antibody status at the time of the visit. She reports no other medical conditions or current medications.

A patient in your clinic is requesting to have an LNG-IUD placed today. You note that their last menstrual period (LMP) started 10 days ago, and when asked about recent unprotected vaginal intercourse, they report they last had sex three days ago.

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Practical strategies for adjusting combined oral contraceptive formulations to manage side effects and improve patient experiences

Review of evidence-based, person-centered strategies for improving patient comfort during IUD placements, from paracervical blocks to non-medication supports

A 25 year-old patient (she/her) is interested in starting birth control four weeks after having her first child. She is breastfeeding but needs to supplement formula one to two bottles a day because of “not having enough milk.” Prior to pregnancy she was happy with a hormonal implant but is unsure if this method is safe while producing milk.