In our latest issue of Contemporary Sexuality, we reported on the recent positive impact of several programs centered around long-acting reversible contraception. And indeed, it seems as if hormonal implants and IUDs are having a moment... even inspiring a Huffington Post piece entitled "Why IUDs Are Having a Moment Right Now." Among the reasons mentioned in the Huffington Post piece are new recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics, in addition to the fact that IUDs are not nearly as expensive as they used to be.
Still NPR reports that advisers at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have called for more research on the safety of Essure, marketed as the only permanent birth control you can get without a surgical procedure. Those who have tried Essure report symptoms such as chronic pain, heavy bleeding, and fatigue.
There's no question that the increasing popularity of more varied and longer-lasting forms of birth control represent a huge win for women who have long wished for more options. But with all of the new products appearing on the market, it's becoming ever more important to keep up with the research on each option out there.
