Progestin-Only Contraceptives

Types of Contraceptives

• Intrauterine devices (IUDs) and subdermal birth controls, such as Nexplanon (etonogestrel), are progestin-only contraceptives, not combined contraceptives, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1, 2
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends progestin-only pills (POPs) as a contraceptive option 2, 3
• The CDC recommends depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injections as a progestin-only contraceptive method 2

Clinical Considerations

• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that both IUDs and subdermal implants are highly effective with failure rates of less than 1% per year 2
• The Arthritis Foundation recommends that women with cardiovascular disease can safely use progestin-only methods like IUDs and implants 4, 5
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that women with a history of migraine with aura can safely use progestin-only methods like IUDs and implants 1

Clinical Applications

• The American College of Rheumatology recommends that patients with contraindications to estrogen, such as those with positive antiphospholipid antibodies, use IUDs and implants as safe alternatives 4, 5
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adolescents and women who have never been pregnant use IUDs and implants as safe and effective options with high continuation rates 6
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that women with medical conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) use IUDs and progestin implants as preferred options over other hormonal contraceptives 4, 5
• The CDC recommends that while IUDs and subdermal implants are highly effective at preventing pregnancy, they do not protect against sexually transmitted infections 2, 7