Contraception: A Primer for Pharmacists
Target Audience: Pharmacy Tech
Course Overview
Contraception is the purposeful use of interventions to prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse. Contraception is a common reason many women seek healthcare, and pharmacists provide a vital and accessible resource for contraceptive education. By offering evidence-based information and counseling on administration, indications, side effects, and interactions associated with contraceptives, pharmacists can ensure their patients utilize contraception safely and effectively. This course will provide a review of the menstrual cycle and detail currently available contraceptive options. Mechanisms of action, side effects profiles, benefits, failure rates, and contraindications and warnings will be discussed for various contraceptives.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe phases of the menstrual cycle
- Compare and contrast contraceptive methods
- Recall indications, contraindications, side effect profiles, and monitoring parameters for contraceptives
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. The Menstrual Cycle: An Overview
1. The Follicular (Proliferative) Phase
2. Ovulatory Phase
3. Luteal Phase
III. Contraceptive Options
IV. Nonpharmacologic Therapies
1. Fertility Awareness Methods
2. Barrier Techniques
V. Pharmacologic Therapies
1. Spermicides
2. Hormonal Contraception
3. Combined Hormonal Contraceptives (CHCs)
4. Oral Contraceptives
5. Transdermal Contraceptives
6. Vaginal Rings
7. Important Considerations of CHC Use
8. Progestin-Only Contraceptives
9. Progestin-Only Pills (POPs)
10. Injectable Progestin
11. Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC)
12. Emergency Contraception
VI. The Role of the Pharmacist
VII. Summary
From May 1, 2023 through May 1, 2026, 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: Liz Fredrickson, PharmD, BCPS, Pamela M. Sardo, PharmD, BS, and Susan DePasquale, MSN, PMHNP-BC. Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS, was an employee of Rhythm Pharmaceuticals until March 2022, and has no conflicts of interest or relationships regarding the subject matter discussed. There are no financial relationships relevant to this activity to report or disclose by any of the individuals involved in developing 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.
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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.
PTCB Recognition
RxCe.com, LLC, offers pharmacy technician continuing education courses for PTCB recertification. Pharmacy technician courses are indicated both in the Target Audience description and the ACPE UAN which will end with a "T".