{"id":2553,"date":"2021-01-24T10:48:15","date_gmt":"2021-01-24T07:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/poriutivit.com\/staging2\/?p=2553"},"modified":"2021-06-02T11:11:25","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T08:11:25","slug":"call-for-doctors-and-medical-professionals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/poriutivit.com\/staging2\/en\/womens-health\/call-for-doctors-and-medical-professionals\/","title":{"rendered":"Message for Gynecologists and Health Professionals"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>Most women spend the better part of 35 years trying to avoid pregnancy. Knowing how to choose the right contraceptive method at different life stages can be a challenging process. There is no silver bullet, no perfect method, no 100% efficacy or a \u201cone size fits all\u201d approach. The research continues to show wide gaps between perfect and imperfect use (method vs user failure). We know that nearly 50% of users stop or switch methods within one year of starting; discontinuation rates and side effects are estimated to explain 20-30% of unplanned pregnancies.<\/span>\n

For <\/span>physicians<\/span><\/i>, prescribing birth control is fairly straightforward. Hormonal birth control and IUDs are usually the methods of choice.\u00a0 But for <\/span>patients<\/span><\/i>, choosing a method is more of a trade-off because hormonal methods and IUDs often cause side effects that impact health and quality of life. Choosing the right method requires a mindful examination of many factors: age, reproductive goals, past experiences, number of partners, current needs and preferences, attitudes and expectations, knowledge and education, cultural and religious beliefs, physical and mental health, lifestyle, relationship factors, and personal values. Clearly, there are numerous factors to consider.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

\"A<\/span><\/h3>\n

For patients, their decision often comes down to settling for the lesser of \u201call evils,\u201d rather than choosing the best method for their body and health.\u00a0 Finding the best fit means having to juggle the benefits of high efficacy with the drawbacks of unpleasant side effects. Since there is no win-win situation for all, the downsides often outweigh the upsides.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are 12 steps that Doctors can take<\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Have a more nuanced conversation with patients about the overall differences between contraceptive methods.<\/span><\/h3>\n

After all, each type of method requires a different mindset, priority, value, and skillset: Here\u2019s a way to break them down into four groups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Methods that require:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. No behavioral effort on the part of the user (IUDs and implants).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Low levels of behavioral effort (remembering to take a pill every day or replacing a vaginal ring every month).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Higher levels of effort (diaphragms, spermicides, condoms)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. User-controlled and 100% responsibility (such as the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) or other Sympto-Thermal Methods (STM), fertility apps and devices).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    2. Accept the fact that for many users, statistical efficacy is not the <\/b>only<\/i><\/b> important factor<\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

    When it comes to prioritizing birth control methods, most physicians view statistical efficacy as the over-riding consideration.\u00a0 They naturally want their patients to enjoy the \u201ceasiest to use\u201d methods (like HBC and IUDs) as these methods confer high efficacy and are relatively \u201chassle-free.\u201c\u00a0 Yet all methods come with a non-monetary \u201cprice tag,\u201d and only over time will a patient\/couple learn whether their choice was good enough or whether the price they paid was \u201ctoo high.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    3. Improve communication by asking relevant and personalized opening questions:<\/h3>\n