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description Monograph verified MOC Eligible

Contraception: A Primer for Healthcare Professionals

Target Audience: Pharmacist, Pharmacy Tech, Physician Assistant, Physician

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local_hospital 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1™
person 3.00 AAPA Category 1
groups 3.00 IPCE Credits

Course Overview

Contraception is the use of methods or techniques to prevent pregnancy. Nearly all women who have ever had sexual intercourse have used some form of contraception, and 88% of women who seek pregnancy prevention report using contraception at any given time. Patients seeking contraception should be informed and supported through a shared decision-making model with their healthcare providers. Contraceptive counseling can be implemented to determine a patient's preferences, values, and insights and ensure reproductive goals are being met. Additionally, providing evidence-based education on the use, efficacy, and side effects ensures patients are well-informed and utilize contraception safely and effectively. This course will detail currently available nonhormonal and hormonal contraceptive options, with a review of appropriate use, failure rates, pertinent side effects, and contraindications. This course will also discuss strategies for selecting a contraceptive method and counseling patients on the selection and use of contraceptives.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

  • Compare and contrast contraceptive methods
  • Differentiate the risk-benefit profile of contraceptives
  • Identify important considerations when selecting and counseling patients on contraceptives

Faculty

Authors & Activity Planners
Liz Fredrickson, PharmD, BCPS
View Bio +
Liz Fredrickson is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy. She serves as the Director of Instructional Labs and is course director for the Basic Pharmaceutics Lab and Parenteral Products and Parenteral Products Lab courses.
L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP
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Dr. Fredrickson is an assistant professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, where he serves as core faculty and teaches diagnostics, therapeutics, clinical skills, and health humanities. He is board-certified in general internal medicine and practices rural primary care.
Anna Shurtleff Smith, MPH, BSN-RN
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Anna Shurtleff Smith is a graduate of the University of North Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health with a community health focus, and Texas Tech University School of Nursing. She has clinical experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Anna is passionate about patient education, health literacy, and health communications. When not writing, she can be found enjoying the outdoors and enjoying family time.
Additional Faculty & Reviewers
Liz Fredrickson, PharmD, BCPS
View Bio +
Liz Fredrickson is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Pharmacy. She serves as the Director of Instructional Labs and is course director for the Basic Pharmaceutics Lab and Parenteral Products and Parenteral Products Lab courses.
Pamela Sardo, Pharm.D., B.S.
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Pamela Sardo, Pharm.D., B.S. is a licensed pharmacist and Freelance Medical Writer at Sardo Solutions in Texas.
L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP
View Bio +
Dr. Fredrickson is an assistant professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, where he serves as core faculty and teaches diagnostics, therapeutics, clinical skills, and health humanities. He is board-certified in general internal medicine and practices rural primary care.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC): Continuing Certification is offered for the American Board of Internal Medicine® (ABIM) and the American Board of Pediatrics® (ABP).

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 3.0 Medical Knowledge MOC points. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting MOC credit.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component and post-test, qualifies for MOC points with the following boards:

American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
  • Endocrinology
  • Internal Medicine
American Board of Pediatrics (ABP)
  • Pediatrics
  • Introduction
  • Contraception: Prevalence and Options
  • Selecting a Contraception Option
  • Special Populations
    • Adolescents
    • Postpartum
  • Norgestrel: Nonprescription Daily Oral Contraceptive
  • Common Concerns
  • Nonpharmacologic Therapies
    • Fertility Awareness Methods
    • Barrier Techniques
    • Spermicides
    • Nonhormonal Contraceptive Intravaginal Gel
  • Hormonal Contraception
    • Combined Hormonal Contraceptives
    • Combined Oral Contraceptives (COC)
    • Transdermal Contraceptives
    • Vaginal Rings
    • Important Considerations of CHC Use
    • Progestin-Only Contraceptives
    • Progestin-Only Pills (POPs)
    • Injectable Progestin
    • Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC)
  • Selecting a Contraceptive Method
  • Counseling Patients on Contraception
  • Interprofessional Collaboration
  • Patient Case
  • Emergency Contraception
  • Summary

From April 24, 2026 through April 24, 2029, participants must:

  1. Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
  2. Study the section entitled "educational activity"
  3. 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 JA_PARS.

Faculty Planner Disclosure

The following individuals were involved in planning, developing, and/or authoring this activity: L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP; Liz Fredrickson, PharmD, BCPS; Anna Shurtleff Smith, MPH, BSN-RN; and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. None of the individuals involved in developing this activity has a conflict of interest or financial relationships related to 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 designed solely 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 must consult their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization for guidelines, protocols, and procedures 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 is constantly changing. Any person taking this course understands that such a person must make an independent review of medication information before 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.