title: Postpartum contraception.
abstract: As birth spacing has demonstrated health benefits for a woman and her children, contraception after childbirth is recognized as an important health issue. The potential risk of pregnancy soon after delivery underscores the importance of initiating postpartum contraception in a timely manner. The contraceptive method initiated in the postpartum period depends upon a number of factors including medical history, anatomic and hormonal factors, patient preference, and whether or not the woman is breastfeeding. When electing a contraceptive method, informed choice is paramount. The availability of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods immediately postpartum provides a strategy to achieve reductions in unintended pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sober
authors.forename: Courtney A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Schreiber
mesh_terms: D000568:Amenorrhea; D001721:Birth Intervals; D001942:Breast Feeding; D017280:Condoms; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003274:Contraceptive Devices, Female; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017135:Desogestrel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004343:Drug Implants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049590:Postpartum Period; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal / Q000379:methods; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D004343:Drug Implants; C044815:etonogestrel; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D017135:Desogestrel; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate