Family Planning 2011: Better Use of Existing Methods, New Strategies, and More Informed Choices for Female Contraception

The document from 2011 emphasizes the need for improved use of existing contraceptive methods, the development of new strategies, and the provision of more informed choices for female contraception. It notes that despite the increase in contraceptive use, challenges such as high user-failure rates, discontinuation due to side effects, and regional differences in prevalence persist. The paper suggests that adaptations of current methods could increase acceptability and ease of use. It discusses the preference for levonorgestrel-containing oral contraceptives due to lower thromboembolic risk, the shift from laparoscopic to transcervical sterilization, and the underuse of emergency contraception. The document also highlights the effectiveness and popularity of the intrauterine system in Europe, the non-contraceptive health benefits of contraceptives, and the potential of new developments like selective progesterone receptor modulators. Finally, it underscores the need for contraceptives that offer dual protection against pregnancy and STIs, citing studies on products that could provide such benefits. The document concludes that while contraceptive use has risen, the demand for new methods that offer dual protection and additional health benefits remains high.