Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Overview course for GPs

This session addresses the long-acting reversible methods of contraception, including their effectiveness, thus ensuring knowledge of how to access these methods of contraception for our patients.

This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in November 2019.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe the long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)
• State the effectiveness of LARCs and how they work
• Explain the factors that can make LARCs unsafe
• Explain what a patient needs to know to enable them to make an informed decision to use a LARC
• Explain who LARCs can/should be offered to and why

In July 2019, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) updated their 2005 guidelines for the use of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs). The guidelines state that LARCs are the most cost-effective methods of contraception and advocates their increased use. Importantly, LARCs are also the most effective methods in clinical practice.