Contraceptive Pearls

The "Pearls" offer answers to commonly asked questions about family planning. These "Pearls" are prepared by Dr. James D. Shelton, Senior Medical Scientist, Office of Population and Reproductive Health, United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

New Pearls

• What can you tell me about the mechanism of action of emergency contraception (EC)?
  
  
• I understand the FDA has approved a new emergency contraceptive (EC). Can you please tell me about it?
  
  
• That’s very interesting that during the chronic phase of HIV infection genital transmission risk is relatively low. Why would that be?
  
  
• In our hospital we provide post abortion care. But most women seem to go home without being offered contraception. Is there something we can use to help persuade our administrator, doctors and nurses that we should make contraception more readily available?
  
  
• I know solid evidence exists that male circumcision (MC) markedly reduces men’s risk of contracting HIV, but does it reduce the risk of other STIs?
  
  
• These Sino-implants sound really good. Is USAID buying them for programs it supports?
  
  
• Contraceptive implants are extremely popular in our country. So whenever we get a new supply of implants they are used up in a few weeks. But the high cost of the implants limits the amount we can provide. I’ve heard there is a Chinese Implant that is considerably less expensive. Is that correct?
  
  
• I can see that in Zambia the percentage of people reporting multiple partners has declined. But what about concurrent sexual partners (overlapping in time)? I understand they may be especially risky for HIV infection.
  
  
• In addition to Swaziland, are there other recent examples of countries with generalized HIV epidemics where number of sexual partners has declined?
  
  
• I realize multiple sexual partners is a major driver of HIV transmission, especially in the generalized epidemics of Eastern and Southern Africa. Are there recent examples where people have reduced sexual partners?
  
  
• I think the Family Planning Global Handbook for Providers is an excellent tool, but is there an even more condensed tool with the “essentials” that providers can use expeditiously?
  
  
• What is new and different about the new Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers compared to the old Essentials of Contraceptive Technology?
  
  

View the Archive of Related Pearls

• Family Planning Pearls
  
  
• Birth Spacing Pearls
  
  
• HIV Pearls

For more information on family planning, please contact USAID at ebayer@usaid.gov.