What are the most popular birth control methods prescribed in the United States?

You are seeing a 15-year-old female patient for a gynecological exam and to explore birth control options. The patient’s mother scheduled the appointment after learning that her daughter has become sexually active. The patient is current with all immunizations, including Gardasil, and has no significant health history that would contraindicate the use of birth control.

This is the patient’s first gynecological exam, and she expresses feeling nervous and embarrassed that her mother has shared her sexual experience with strangers. Taking this into account, how would you begin the patient encounter?
As you begin asking questions to determine the patient’s gynecological history, the patient appears frustrated and embarrassed and reminds you that she has only had sex one time. What should the patient understand about the importance of reviewing gynecological history?
What are the most popular birth control methods prescribed in the United States? What determines the success or failure of a birth control method?
The patient expresses a desire for the most effective form of birth control but is concerned about weight gain and other side effects. How should you respond to her concerns?
The patient seems unsure about the best option for birth control and asks if she can take some time to think about the choices. As the use of birth control is ultimately the patient’s choice, you offer to answer any questions and agree to a follow-up visit or call. The patient asks whether using a condom is okay if she decides to have sexual intercourse before selecting a method of birth control. What should you tell her?

Student to reply to:

1. This is the patient’s first gynecological exam, and she expresses feeling nervous and embarrassed that her mother has shared her sexual experience with strangers. Taking this into account, how would you begin the patient encounter? A 15 year old female patient for a gynecological exam and she wants to explore birth control options my first thought is that for healthcare professional to gain a consent for gynecological exam without the guardianship for an 15 year old patient it is not legal according to Florida Senate Bill 698. For a mother to schedule the appointment after learning that her daughter has become sexually active should question why was not mother present during the appointment. For a patient under 18 years old a legal guardianship should have been present. For unemancipated minor who request confidential care without a guardian places the healthcare professional at risk of violating the law. Patient should be educated that her mother or legal guardian does needs to know medical treatment or potential harm or benefits that will provided to her daughter. The patient will need to be aware that her mother should not express the patient sexual experience with strangers and the greater legal responsibilities for confidentiality are on the healthcare professionals. However, if and when the visit becomes a Planned Parenthood visit the teen by law can be given contraception medications without the parent or guardian. Mother will needs to get permission and answers from her daughter about her Planned Parenthood visits.
2. As you begin asking questions to determine the patient’s gynecological history, the patient appears frustrated and embarrassed and reminds you that she has only had sex one time. What should the patient understand about the importance of reviewing gynecological history? Patient’s gynecological history is extremely important to obtain for proper diagnosis and treatment. For a patient who is 15 years old who appears frustrated and embarrassed should be educated that she has the right to be embarrassed and frustrated and that obtaining small and large information is important to properly provide standard of care. Patient will need to understand it takes only one time to contract sexual infections or she can become pregnant.
3. What are the most popular birth control methods prescribed in the United States? What determines the success or failure of a birth control method? A birth control method prescribed in the United States that is the most popular tends to be oral pills sum up to about 12.3% and female sterilization is slightly higher at 18.6% for appropriate ages. About 65% of female from the age of 15-49 uses brith control methods. The success or failure of birth control method isn’t so clear during research. The success will be determine on the compliant use of birth control and the use of condom decreases the transmission of sexual infections.
4. The patient expresses a desire for the most effective form of birth control but is concerned about weight gain and other side effects. How should you respond to her concerns? Patient expresses a desire for the most effective form of birth control and has concern of weight gain and other side effects should note the condom will definitely protect her from pregnancy and most sexual infection which is not 100%. In addition to oral birth control pill there is chance of weight gain and side effects that will occur. A healthcare professional should encourage the patient to include her guardian and or parent to help make that decision.
5. The patient seems unsure about the best option for birth control and asks if she can take some time to think about the choices. As the use of birth control is ultimately the patient’s choice, you offer to answer any questions and agree to a follow-up visit or call. The patient asks whether using a condom is okay if she decides to have sexual intercourse before selecting a method of birth control. What should you tell her? Patient decides to use condoms to have sexual intercourse before selecting a birth control method. Patient will need to be educated that condom is a form of birth control and sexual infection control and the use of condoms does not protect from all sexual infection or pregnancy. Even with the use of oral birth control pill this may decrease the chance of pregnancy but it does not protect the patient from sexual infections. Patient will needs education of the potential harm and effects of birth control and sexual infections.
Retrieved October 7, 2020 https://www.magmutual.com/learning/article/written-consent-required-pelvic-exams-florida/ (Links to an external site.)
Retrieved October 7, 2020 https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/ethics/confidential-health-care-minors (Links to an external site.)
Retrieved October 7, 2020 https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db327.htm#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20contraceptive%20methods,and%20male%20condom%20(8.7%25). (Links to an external site.)
Dunphy, M. L, Winland-Brown, E. J, Porter, O. B, & Thomas, J. D. (2019). Primary Care: Art and Science of Advanced Practice. (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.