Appendix D: Routine Follow-Up After Contraceptive Initiation

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These recommendations address when routine follow-up is recommended for safe and effective continued use of contraception for healthy women (Table D1). The recommendations refer to general situations and might vary for different users and different situations. Specific populations that might benefit from more frequent follow-up visits include adolescents, those with certain medical conditions or characteristics, and those with multiple medical conditions.

TABLE D1. Routine follow-up after contraceptive initiation
Action Contraceptive method
Cu-IUD or LNG-IUD Implant Injectable CHC POP
General follow-up
Advise women to return at any time to discuss side effects or other problems or if they want to change the method. Advise women using IUDs, implants, or injectables when the IUD or implant needs to be removed or when a reinjection is needed. No routine follow-up visit is required. X X X X X
Other routine visits
Assess the woman’s satisfaction with her current method and whether she has any concerns about method use. X X X X X
Assess any changes in health status, including medications, that would change the method’s appropriateness for safe and effective continued use based on U.S. MEC (i.e., category 3 and 4 conditions and characteristics) (Box 1). X X X X X
Consider performing an examination to check for the presence of IUD strings. X — — — —
Consider assessing weight changes and counseling women who are concerned about weight change perceived to be associated with their contraceptive method. X X X X X
Measure blood pressure. — — — X —
Abbreviations: CHC = combined hormonal contraceptives; Cu-IUD = copper-containing intrauterine device; HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; IUD = intrauterine device; LNG-IUD = levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device; POP = progestin-only pill; U.S. MEC = U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use.

Pages in this Report

  1. Table of Contents
  2. US SPR 2016
  3. Introduction
  4. How To Be Reasonably Certain that a Woman Is Not Pregnant
  5. Intrauterine Contraception
  6. Implants
  7. Injectables
  8. Combined Hormonal Contraceptives
  9. Progestin-Only Pills
  10. Standard Days Method
  11. Emergency Contraception
  12. Female Sterilization
  13. Male Sterilization
  14. When Women Can Stop Using Contraceptives
  15. Conclusion
  16. References
  17. Summary Chart of U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2016
  18. When To Start Using Specific Contraceptive Methods
  19. Examinations and Tests Needed Before Initiation of Contraceptive Methods
  20. ›Routine Follow-Up After Contraceptive Initiation
  21. Management of Women with Bleeding Irregularities While Using Contraception
  22. Management of Intrauterine Devices When Users are Found To Have Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
  23. Participants
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