Birth Control News & Features

January 4, 2023 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized a regulatory change that allows retail pharmacies to offer abortion pills.

December 29, 2022 — Restricted access to abortions may have increased the suicide risk among women in their reproductive years, a new study suggests.

December 6, 2022 — A new report says pharmacists can now prescribe hormonal contraceptives in 20 states, plus Washington, D.C., giving women easier access to birth control.

July 18, 2022 — A Plan B vending machine in Boston is gaining attention as reproductive rights have come into question since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

July 11, 2022 — The drug company HRA Pharma is seeking FDA approval to sell a birth control pill over the counter in the U.S.

April 8, 2022 — In The Business of Birth Control, a documentary available digitally and in theaters this week, the filmmakers argue that while hormonal birth control was considered a huge step toward women’s reproductive freedom when doctors began prescribing it 60 years ago, it also isn’t without its share of risks, which may be why more and more women are seeking holistic and ecological alternatives to the pill.

February 25, 2022 — A new study finds IUDs are nearly as effective as having your tubes tied in preventing unwanted pregnancies and cause fewer side effects.

May 7, 2021 — No matter where you are on the gender spectrum you could need birth control, especially if there’s a chance you could get pregnant and you’re not trying to. Learn about the types of birth control available and what might be best for you.

May 6, 2021 — Research shows when access to affordable birth control increased rates of pregnancies and abortions also dropped.

April 30, 2021 — You might find that your birth control doesn’t fit into your lifestyle anymore. It’s normal and completely safe to switch methods, as long as you talk to your doctor first. Learn more about when you should switch your method, how to transition, and what side effects could happen after you swap birth control methods.

January 29, 2021 — How is birth control different from an abortion? What is the process like? What are the effects on your body? Learn the differences between birth control and an abortion.

January 29, 2021 — How do you get emergency contraception? Which type is best? What are the effects on your body? Get the answers straight from a doctor.

January 27, 2021 — How do birth control apps work? Can I use a cycle tracking app for birth control? How do I find a reliable fertility app? Learn about apps for cycle tracking, fertility, family planning, and birth control.

January 27, 2021 — Here's what you need to know about using a menstrual cup when you have an IUD.

January 27, 2021 — Can you get a copper IUD put in as emergency contraception? How does it work? What are the pros and cons?

January 27, 2021 — IUDs often cause cramps. Learn what can you do about them, how long they might last, how to feel better, and what to do if they don’t go away.

January 27, 2021 — What happens if you think your IUD is out of place? What are the signs? How do you check? Should you call the doctor? Learn what to look for and what to do if you think your IUD is out of place.

December 22, 2020 — A professor who led a study on women’s attempts to remove their IUDs found there’s a high risk of failure, but there’s really no harm in doing it yourself if you want to try.

December 22, 2020 — Many women avoid birth control methods they think will cause weight gain. An IUD isn’t likely to bring extra pounds. It’s also one of the most effective and easy-to-use contraceptives on the market.

December 18, 2020 — Does getting an IUD hurt? Will my periods change? What type of IUD is best? Learn what women wish they had known before they got an IUD.

December 14, 2020 — Thanks to design changes and recent declarations by physician’s groups that they are safe for all ages, IUDs are swiftly gaining popularity.

November 24, 2020 — Women with asthma may suffer fewer severe symptom attacks if they are on birth control pills, a large new study suggests.

July 8, 2020 — More than 70,000 U.S. women could be left without cost-free birth control after the Supreme Court upheld a Trump administration policy change that permits some employers to refuse to provide contraceptive coverage on religious or moral grounds.

November 7, 2019 — The patch, which contains "micro-needles" absorbed into the skin, is seen as a possible alternative to current long-acting contraceptives

September 25, 2019 — Many women get contraceptives through their doctor, but the issue of access to birth control has become more pressing as family planning clinics close across the United States.

August 23, 2019 — Reproductive coercion is a form of abuse in which a girl or woman is pressured into pregnancy. From a male partner threatening to leave if his female partner refuses to have his baby, to poking holes in condoms before sex, the coercion can take shape in a variety of ways.

March 25, 2019 — Among the men who took the birth control pill, average circulating testosterone levels dropped as low as that which occurs in a state of androgen (male hormone) deficiency.

March 12, 2019 — A gene variant that breaks down hormones in birth control could be the culprit, researchers reported.

March 5, 2019 — The FDA says the product could become less effective if a patient does not take a tablet because it is missing or takes a placebo instead of an active tablet. No unexpected pregnancies or other events have been reported, Apotex says.

February 4, 2019 — In the study, the rate of American women seeking intrauterine devices, implants or other forms of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) shot up by nearly 22 percent during the month after the 2016 presidential election.

January 16, 2019 — The patch, which can be pressed into an arm or leg, has dissolvable microneedles that implant into the skin and slowly dissolve over time, delivering a contraceptive hormone, NBC News reported.

January 14, 2019 — The Trump administration's new rules on employer-provided birth control have been blocked in some parts of the country by a judge in California.

December 24, 2018 — The FDA is implementing a number of steps for long-term safety monitoring of the permanent birth control device Essure, which will no longer be sold or distributed in the U.S. after Dec. 31, 2018.

September 26, 2018 — The protective effect of newer birth control pills -- which contain lower doses of estrogens and different progestogens -- rise over time and persist for several years after women stopped taking them, new research finds.

July 20, 2018 — Drug maker Bayer announced Friday that it would stop US sales of the birth control implant Essure by the end of 2018.

May 30, 2018 — In the packages affected by the recall, the first 4 days of pills contain placebos instead of hormones. The company says the mistake may not be apparent to users.

April 9, 2018 — To help curb complications tied to the permanent contraceptive implant Essure, the FDA on Monday slapped new restrictions on the sale of the device.

November 7, 2017 — IUD contraceptive devices may reduce a woman's risk of cervical cancer by about a third, a new review concludes.

October 6, 2017 — Expected move could affect access to contraception for millions of women

August 31, 2017 — Most rely on condoms, but use of another method has doubled, study finds

August 11, 2017 — New companies and agencies such as planned parenthood are offering women birth control through apps and websites.

June 30, 2017 — 'Mystery shopper' study found druggists refusing sales, despite FDA's removal of age limit for the contraceptive

June 9, 2017 — Birth Control Pills Recalled Due to Danger of Unintended Pregnancy

November 18, 2016 — A drawback to one form is that it isn't effective until 3 months after placement

October 27, 2016 — Injections as effective as other contraceptives, but side effects prompted early halt of trial

September 28, 2016 — Study also ties hormonal patches, IUDs to greater antidepressant use, especially in teens

August 4, 2016 — Expectant mothers or those trying to get pregnant should make sure they get enough of the nutrient, researchers say

July 26, 2016 — Placement of IUD, contraceptive implant after delivery helps prevent accidental pregnancy, doctors advise

February 29, 2016 — Agency says device remains 'appropriate' for many women but also cites reports of serious complications