Clinical Scenarios

Evidence-based strategies for handling real-world clinical scenarios
Each scenario, drawn from real world clinical experiences of Power to Decide’s Senior Director of Health Care and our network of expert clinicians, tackles questions you may face in the exam room.

Have a scenario you’d like us to cover? Scroll to the bottom of the page to submit your own. New scenarios are published every month. 

Showing 10-17 of 18 results

Clinical scenario: Contraception and autoimmune conditions

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.

Clinical scenario: Placing an IUD after unprotected sex

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.

Clinical scenario: Managing abnormal cervical cancer screening tests

A 29 year-old patient (they/them) is transferring care into your practice. They show you that their medical record from a previous provider, pulled up on their phone, includes an ASCUS cytology with reflex positive Human Papillomavirus (HPV) three months ago without follow-up. They pull up other records on their cell phone of a prior normal cytology test at age 26. “What do I do now? I’m worried that I have cancer.”

Clinical scenario: Emergency contraception (EC) for transgender or gender nonbinary (TGNB) patients

A 19 year-old patient (he/him) comes to your emergency department in the early morning. He is seeking HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) following unprotected sex with a male partner the night before. During intake, he discloses that he is transgender and was assigned female at birth (AFAB). He is amenorrheic as a result of testosterone use for gender-affirming hormone therapy. At your facility, cisgender women seeking PEP are also offered EC.

Clinical scenario: Effects of birth control on lactation

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.

Research roundup: February 2025 edition

Double dosing UPA for EC not needed for BMI > 30, postpartum implant placement and milk supply, mifepristone to increase efficacy of medication management of EPL.

Clinical scenario: Which IUD is it?

A 22 year-old patient (she/her) is currently using an IUD and had it placed at another clinic out of state three years ago. When asked which IUD she has, she is not sure, though she thinks it has hormones. She reports having light, irregular periods. Overall, she is satisfied with the IUD and wants to continue using an IUD for birth control.

Research roundup: November 2024 edition

Intrauterine mepivacaine for IUD placement, the impact of abortion restrictions on medical training, pregnancy of unknown location and very early medication abortion, and navigating abortion misinformation
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