This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at C of C chapter.

By Becca Davis & Erika LeGendre

Unplanned pregnancy is one of the biggest problems facing the United States today. Women and their families, communities, and the government are impacted by this public health problem. More than 99% of women who have ever had sexual intercourse have used a contraceptive method. Among current contraceptive users, the pill is the most widely used birth control method with almost 30% of women choosing it as their primary method of protection. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 9% of women using the pill will become pregnant over one year of use. The main reason for that is because the pill is 99% lab effective and in the real world reaching lab quality accuracy is not always possible. Effectiveness in everyday life is significantly reduced from 99.7% to 91%. A smaller drop in effectiveness is also seen in the patch and the ring. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), like the arm implant and intrauterine device (IUD) offer a resolution to this issue.

Compared to other contraception options, LARC has considerably lower failure rates, yet significantly fewer women choose LARC methods. According to Guttmacher, in 2010 only 5.6% of all contraceptive users used an IUD and 0.5% used the arm implant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), less then 1% of women using LARC methods will become pregnant. The chance of becoming pregnant while using LARC is substantially lower than any other method. Women need these safe, effective, and low-maintenance birth control methods.

LARC is a method that can change the statistics of unintended pregnancy, as well as decrease tax dollars spent on unplanned pregnancy. With LARC there is nothing to forget, except that it’s there. There are a few options when it comes to which LARC one can choose, such as ParaGard,® Mirena,® Skyla® and Implanon® or Nexplanon.®

IUDs

ParaGard® is a copper IUD that is a t-shaped device that is inserted into the uterus by a health care provider and can last up to 12 years (Paragard.com). The hormonal IUD Mirena® is also t-shaped and inserted into the uterus but is made from plastic, releases the hormone progesterone, and can last up to 5 years (Mirena.com). The hormonal IUD Skyla® is almost identical to the Mirena® except that it prevents pregnancy for 3 years (Skyla.com). All 3 forms of IUDs work in the same way, in that they prevent sperm from fertilizing the egg and also, for some women, prevent ovulation. The progesterone IUDs also thicken the cervical mucus and blocks sperm from reaching the egg. (PPH) The FDA approved these methods for all women, even teens and women who have not had a child. All 3 methods are safe and have very minimal side effects and many benefits. Some side effects are minor pain when the IUD is inserted, cramping and backaches for a few days after insertion, spotting between periods for the first 3-6 months, irregular periods for 3-6 months with Mirena® or Skyla,® and some women may experience heavier periods and worse menstrual cramps with ParaGard®. Some rare side effects include infection, tearing, and slipping. The benefits are a possible improved sex life, no hormonal changes with ParaGard®, reduced period by 90% with Mirena® and Skyla® and the ability to become pregnant quickly once it is removed, lower cost, long lasting, and highly effective. The IUDs have a higher lab and actual use effectiveness rate than any other birth control, only 1 in 100 woman a year will become pregnant while on a LARC.

Arm Implants

The arm implant, also known as Implanon® or Nexplanon® is a tiny rod that is inserted under the skin in the upper arm. Most women do not even notice that it is there because it’s so small. The implant works by releasing hormones that prevent ovulation, as well as by thickening the cervical mucus and can prevent pregnancy for up to 3 years. Possible negative side effects include irregular bleeding, spotting in between periods, longer or heavier periods for the first 6-12 months, acne, appetite change, change in sex drive, ovarian cysts, depression, tender breasts, pain at the insertion site, nausea, headaches, and dizziness. According to Bedsider (besider.org), the benefits are that it does not interrupt the heat of the moment, overall fewer and lighter periods, nothing to remember, lasts for 3 years, safe those with diabetes or hypertension, can be used while breastfeeding, safe for women who can not take estrogen, and may improve PMS, depression, and endometriosis symptoms.

The “I <3 My LARC” Campaign

Advocates for Youth is a non-profit organization that efforts to help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. The South Carolina Contraceptive Access Campaign, a project of New Morning Foundation in partnership with Advocates for Youth, works to ensure that teens and young adults have the information, skills, and services they need to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy and STDs, including HIV.

Advocates for Youth partnered with students and researchers at the College of Charleston to design and implement a campaign to raise awareness, increase knowledge and improve access to long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods among young women. In South Carolina, 56% of all pregnancies are unintended and almost one half of pregnancies among women in their twenties are unintended.

This innovative academic/community partnership involved formative research, including focus groups and interviews. These findings were used to develop campaign strategies, communication channels and messages, including “I <3 My LARC” and “Keep Calm and LARC On.” The campaign uses traditional and social media platforms to reach young adults, including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The campaign includes an Instagram video contest asking men and women “Why do you <3 LARC?” “I <3 My LARC” must appear somewhere in the video to be eligible for prizes. The winner of the grand prize, a 16GB iPod Nano will be announced at the “Better Contraception Rally” on Saturday, April 19th at the Charleston Farmer’s Market, Marion Square, Charleston, SC.

The event will feature free counseling and information from health care providers and current LARC users. Our team will share information about LARC methods, including the intrauterine device (IUD) and the implant, answer questions about contraceptive methods, such as price information and where these methods are available, and share personal experiences.

For more information:

@TheSCYAN

https://www.facebook.com/sexted

http://instagram.com/choose_well

http://bedsider.org/

Why LARC is Better For Young Adults

http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/publications-a-z/2083-providing-larcs-to-young-women

Is LARC Right For You?

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/all-access/my-method-26542.htm

References:

Bethune, B. (2012). Increasing IUD Use in the United States: A Cost Consequences Study. Evans School Review. https://depts.washington.edu/esreview/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ESR-2012-Increasing-IUD-Use-in-the-United-States-A-Cost-Consequences-Study.pdf

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