Contraception: A Primer for Healthcare Teams Webinar
Target Audience: Pharmacist
Course Overview
Contraception is a cornerstone of reproductive healthcare, enabling patients to prevent unintended pregnancies and support their reproductive goals. Despite widespread contraceptive use, unintended pregnancies still affect over 40% of individuals in the United States, highlighting the need for informed, patient-centered care. With the introduction of new contraceptive methods, healthcare providers must stay current on the full range of hormonal and nonhormonal options. This continuing education activity will prepare healthcare professionals to effectively counsel patients using a shared decision-making approach that incorporates individual preferences, medical histories, and the latest clinical evidence. This course will also emphasize the importance of educating patients on contraceptive efficacy, side effects, and proper use to promote reproductive autonomy and optimize health outcomes.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Differentiate contraceptive methods based on mechanism of action, efficacy, and patient-specific factors
- Evaluate the indications, contraindications, side effect profiles, and necessary monitoring parameters for various contraceptive options
- Recognize special populations and unique considerations in contraceptive use
- Describe the role of a healthcare team in counseling patients about contraception
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. Contraception and Collaborative Care
A. Team Members’ Roles and Responsibilities
B. Interprofessional Communication
C. Teams and Teamwork
D. Values and Ethics
E. Patient Education and Counseling
III. Nonpharmacologic Contraceptive Options
A. Fertility Awareness Methods
B. Barrier Methods
Pharmacologic Therapies
A. Spermicides
B. Nonhormonal Contraceptive Intravaginal Gel
Hormonal Contraception
A. Combined Hormonal Contraceptives
B. Combined Oral Contraceptives: Formulations and Advancement
C. New Formulation: Orally Dissolvable Tablet
D. Newer Estrogen Components: Estradiol Valerate and Estetrol
E. Tolerability, Side Effects, and Considerations
F. Counseling Patients on Combined Oral Contraceptives
Transdermal Contraceptives
Vaginal Rings
A. Counseling Considerations and Contraindications CHCs
B. Progestin-Only Contraceptives
C. Pearls for POPS
D. Injectable Progestin Contraceptives
Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC)
A. Subdermal Implant: Nexplanon
B. Cautions and Warnings
C. Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
D. Clinical Pearls
IV. Summary
From June 18, 2025 through June 18, 2028, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP, Anna Smith, BSN, MPH, BS, Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. None of these individuals has a conflict of interest or financial relationship regarding the subject matter. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
Please ensure the device you plan to use meets these requirements:
- Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 / Mac OS X 10.9 or later / iOS / Android
- Supported Browsers: Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, Opera
- A connection to the internet
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.