Long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARCs) methods

Publication date: Available online 20 December 2019Source: Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & GynaecologyAuthor(s): Luis Bahamondes, Arlete Fernandes, Ilza Monteiro, M. Valeria BahamondesAbstractUnplanned pregnancy (UP) is a public health problem which affects millions of women worldwide. Providing long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods is an excellent strategy to avoid or at least reduce UP, because the effectiveness of these methods is higher than for other methods, and is indeed comparable to that of permanent contraception. Since the initial introduction of the inert plastic intrauterine device (IUD) and of the six-rod implant, pharmaceutical companies have introduced a copper IUD (Cu-IUD), different models of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine systems (LNG IUS), and one and two-rod implants, which certainly improved women’s LARC options. The main characteristic of LARCs is that they provide high contraceptive effectiveness with a single intervention, and that they can be used for a long time. Emerging evidence from the last few years has demonstrated that it is possible to extend the use of the 52mg LNG IUS and of the etonogestrel-implant beyond the five- and three-years, respectively, which adds new value to these LARCs.
Source: Best Practice and Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology - Category: OBGYN Source Type: research