17 Aug POC Sessions 1-4 are now UPDATED
Progestin-only contraceptives (POCs) have become a popular alternative to combined hormonal contraceptives (CHC) as they are not associated with an increase in the risk of venous thrombosis or arterial events such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Oral POCs are very low dose and have minimal metabolic impact. POCs are an important option for women with medical conditions and need for efficient contraception.
Unfortunately, the number of POCs on the market is limited. If a woman does not tolerate one progestin-only pill there have been few others. Since 2002 with the arrival of desogestrel (and more recently the development of the drospirenone-only pill) we now have alternatives which also have higher degrees of inhibition of ovulation.
In the 2020 update the POC part of the TTT has a new and improved structure into 4 parts. After an overview discussing general POC aspects each method is explained in more detail in a separate section. A lot of relevant information has been included about drospirenone alone and in comparison with other POCs. A huge part of the overview comprises information on long-term bleeding patterns with the methods and suggestions how to counsel and manage this adverse event, which can be inconvenient for women.
- POC Overview PDF / PDF With notes
- POC Implant PDFÂ / PDF With notes
- POP PDFÂ / PDF With notes
- DMPA PDFÂ / PDF With notes
These sessions, based on the latest evidence, have been updated from Dr Frans Roumen, deputy editor of the European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health.
Dr Galina Grebennikova, our board member from Kazakhstan, will now translate the these slides into Russian. We will inform you as soon as the Russian slides are online available.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my great thanks to them both, who over the last 4 years worked so much for the TTT content in order to spread knowledge not only to regions with less access to qualified teaching but also provide advanced knowledge for health care professionals across Europe. Both will contribute to improve reproductive health of many women.
Sit down with your colleagues or residents and study the slides! Then try to work on the workshop cases or to answer the quiz questions.
Do not hesitate to send us your question (nancy.habils@escrh.eu) if an information is not clear.
Gabriele Merki-Feld, Switzerland