Prevention of unintended pregnancy: a focus on long-acting reversible contraception

Abstract

This article summarizes the literature regarding the epidemiology and prevention of unintended pregnancy in the United States. Because of the Affordable Care Act and its accompanying contraceptive provision, there is a need for more primary care clinicians to provide family planning services. Office-based interventions to incorporate family planning services in primary care are presented, including clinical tools and electronic health record use. Special attention is paid to long-acting reversible contraceptive methods (the subdermal implant and intrauterine devices); these highly effective and safe methods have the greatest potential to decrease the rate of unintended pregnancy, but have been underused.

Keywords: Contraception; Electronic health record; Family planning; Long-acting reversible contraception; Unintended pregnancy; Unplanned pregnancy.