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Explore the Handbook

    • Welcome to FPHandbook.org!
    • Foreword From the World Health Organization
    • Foreword From the United States Agency for International Development
    • Acknowledgements
    • WHO’s Family Planning Guidance
    • Human Rights: Family Planning Providers’ Contribution
      • Gender Equality and Gender Inclusiveness - Introduction
      • Gender Inclusiveness
      • Considerations for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Clients
      • References for the Section on Gender Equality and Gender Inclusiveness
    • Collaborating and Supporting Organizations
      • Combined Oral Contraceptives - Introduction
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Facts About Combined Oral Contraceptives and Cancer
      • Who Can and Cannot Use Combined Oral Contraceptives
      • Medical Eligibility Criteria for Combined Oral Contraceptives
      • Using Clinical Judgment in Special Cases
      • Providing Combined Oral Contraceptives
      • Giving Advice on Side Effects
      • Explaining How to Use
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • Come Back Any Time: Reasons to Return
      • Managing Any Problems
      • Extended and Continuous Use of Combined Oral Contraceptives
      • Questions and Answers About Combined Oral Contraceptives
      • Progestin-Only Pills - Introduction
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can and Cannot Use Progestin-Only Pills
      • Medical Eligibility Criteria for Progestin-Only Pills
      • Using Clinical Judgment in Special Cases
      • Providing Progestin-Only Pills
      • Giving Advice on Side Effects
      • Explaining How to Use
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • “Come Back Any Time”: Reasons to Return
      • Managing Any Problems
      • Questions and Answers About Progestin-Only Pills
      • Emergency Contraceptive Pills - Introduction
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can Use Emergency Contraceptive Pills
      • Providing Emergency Contraceptive Pills
      • Pill Formulations and Dosing
      • Giving Emergency Contraceptive Pills
      • How Can a Partner Help?
      • When to Start or Restart Contraception After ECP Use
      • Supporting Users
      • Questions and Answers About Emergency Contraceptive Pills
      • Progestin-Only Injectables - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Delivering Injectable Contraception in the Community
      • Who Can and Cannot Use Progestin-Only Injectables
      • Medical Eligibility Criteria for Progestin-Only Injectables
      • Using Clinical Judgment in Special Cases
      • Providing Progestin-Only Injectables
      • Giving Advice on Side Effects
      • Giving Intramuscular Injection with a Conventional Syringe
      • Giving the Injection with Subcutaneous DMPA in Uniject (Sayana Press)
      • Self-Injection Can Be an Option
      • How to Give Yourself an Injection with Sayana Press
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • Managing Any Problems
      • Questions and Answers About Progestin-Only Injectables
      • Monthly Injectables - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can and Cannot Use Monthly Injectables
      • Medical Eligibility Criteria for Monthly Injectables
      • Using Clinical Judgment in Special Cases
      • Providing Monthly Injectables
      • Giving Advice on Side Effects
      • Giving the Injection
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • Managing Any Problems
      • Questions and Answers About Monthly Injectables
      • Combined Patch: Only the Essentials - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Providing the Combined Patch
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • Combined Vaginal Ring: Only the Essentials - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Providing the Combined Vaginal Ring
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • Progesterone-Releasing Vaginal Ring: Only the Essentials - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Providing the Progesterone-Releasing Vaginal Ring
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • Implants - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can and Cannot Use Implants
      • Medical Eligibility Criteria for Implants
      • Using Clinical Judgment in Special Cases
      • Providing Implants
      • Giving Advice on Side Effects
      • Inserting Implants
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • Follow-up Visits With Implant Users
      • Managing Any Problems
      • New Problems That May Require Switching Methods
      • Removing Implants
      • Questions and Answers About Implants
      • Copper-Bearing Intrauterine Device - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, Health Risks, and Complications
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can and Cannot Use the Copper-Bearing IUD
      • Medical Eligibility Criteria for Copper-Bearing IUDs
      • Using Clinical Judgment in Special Cases
      • Screening Questions for Pelvic Examination Before IUD Insertion
      • Assessing Women for Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections
      • Providing the Intrauterine Device
      • Preventing Infection at IUD Insertion
      • Giving Advice on Side Effects
      • Inserting the IUD
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • "Come Back Any Time": Reasons to Return
      • Post-Insertion Follow-Up Visit (3 to 6 Weeks)
      • Managing Any Problems
      • New Problems That May Require Switching Methods
      • Removing the Intrauterine Device
      • Switching From an IUD to Another Method
      • Questions and Answers About the Intrauterine Device
      • Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, Health Risks, and Complications
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can and Cannot Use Levonorgestrel IUDs
      • Medical Eligibility Criteria for Levonorgestrel IUDs
      • Using Clinical Judgment in Special Cases
      • Screening Questions for Pelvic Examination Before IUD Insertion
      • Assessing Women for Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections
      • Providing the Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device
      • Giving Advice on Side Effects
      • Inserting the LNG-IUD
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • "Come Back Any Time": Reasons to Return
      • Post-Insertion Follow-Up Visit (3 to 6 Weeks)
      • Managing Any Problems
      • New Problems That May Require Switching Methods
      • Removing the Intrauterine Device
      • Switching From an IUD to Another Method
      • Questions and Answers About the LNG-IUD
      • Female Sterilization - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, Health Risks, and Complications
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can Have Female Sterilization
      • Medical Eligibility Criteria for Female Sterilization
      • Providing Female Sterilization
      • Ensuring Informed Choice
      • Performing the Sterilization Procedure
      • Supporting the User
      • "Come Back Any Time": Reasons to Return
      • Managing Any Problems
      • Managing Ectopic Pregnancy
      • Questions and Answers About Female Sterilization
      • Vasectomy - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, Health Risks, and Complications
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can Have a Vasectomy
      • Medical Eligibility Criteria for Vasectomy
      • Providing Vasectomy
      • Vasectomy Techniques
      • Performing the Vasectomy Procedure
      • Supporting the User
      • "Come Back Any Time": Reasons to Return
      • Managing Any Problems
      • Questions and Answers About Vasectomy
      • Male Condoms - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Bringing Up Condom Use
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can and Cannot Use Male Condoms
      • Providing Male Condoms
      • What Condom Users Should Not Do
      • Lubricants for Latex Condoms
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • "Come Back Any Time": Reasons to Return
      • Managing Any Problems
      • New Problems That May Require Switching Methods
      • Questions and Answers About Male Condoms
      • Female Condoms - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can Use Female Condoms
      • Providing Female Condoms
      • Lubricants for Female Condoms
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • "Come Back Any Time": Reasons to Return
      • Managing Any Problems
      • Questions and Answers About Female Condoms
      • Spermicides and Diaphragms - Introduction
      • How Effective - Spermicides?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks - Spermicides
      • Correcting Misunderstandings - Spermicides
      • Who Can and Cannot Use Spermicides
      • Providing Spermicides
      • Supporting the Spermicide User
      • Diaphragms
      • How Effective - Diaphragms?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks - Diaphragms
      • Correcting Misunderstandings - Diaphragms
      • Who Can and Cannot Use Diaphragms
      • Using Clinical Judgment in Special Cases of Diaphragm Use
      • Providing Diaphragms
      • Explaining the Fitting Procedure
      • Explaining How to Use the Diaphragm
      • Supporting the Diaphragm User
      • Tips and Follow-up for Users of Spermicides and the Diaphragm
      • Managing Any Problems
      • Questions and Answers About Spermicides and Diaphragms
      • Cervical Caps: Only the Essentials - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Providing Cervical Caps
      • Fertility Awareness Methods - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can Use Calendar-Based Methods
      • Providing Calendar-Based Methods
      • Explaining How to Use Calendar-Based Methods
      • Who Can Use Symptoms-Based Methods
      • Providing Symptoms-Based Methods
      • Explaining How to Use Symptoms-Based Methods
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • Managing Any Problems
      • Questions and Answers About Fertility Awareness Methods
      • Withdrawal: Only the Essentials - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Who Can and Cannot Use Withdrawal
      • Using Withdrawal
      • Lactational Amenorrhea Method - Introduction
      • How Effective?
      • Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
      • Correcting Misunderstandings
      • Who Can Use the Lactational Amenorrhea Method
      • The Lactational Amenorrhea Method for Women With HIV
      • Providing the Lactational Amenorrhea Method
      • When Can a Woman Use LAM?
      • Explaining How to Use
      • Supporting New and Continuing Users
      • Managing Any Problems
      • Questions and Answers About the Lactational Amenorrhea Method
      • Serving Diverse Groups - Introduction
      • Adolescents
      • All Contraceptives Are Safe for Young People
      • Men
      • Many Ways to Help Men
      • Women Near Menopause
      • When a Woman Can Stop Using Family Planning
      • Relieving Symptoms of Menopause
      • Clients with Disabilities
      • Sexually Transmitted Infections, Including HIV - Introduction
      • Who Is at Risk for STIs?
      • What Causes STIs?
      • Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Infections
      • Common Vaginal Infections That May Not Be Sexually Transmitted
      • Avoiding STIs
      • Contraceptives for Clients with STIs, Including HIV
      • Cervical Cancer
      • Questions and Answers About STIs, Including HIV
      • Family Planning for Adolescents and Women at High Risk for HIV - Introduction
      • Who is at High Risk for Acquiring HIV?
      • What Family Planning Methods Can Be Used by Adolescents and Women at High Risk for HIV?
      • Providing HIV Testing and Prevention Services
      • Who Should Be Offered an HIV Test?
      • Talking about HIV Testing
      • HIV Testing Options
      • Preventing HIV Acquisition
      • Male Partner HIV Testing and Prevention Messages
      • Questions and Answers about Family Planning for Adolescents and Women at High Risk for HIV
      • Maternal and Newborn Health - Introduction
      • Planning Pregnancy
      • During Pregnancy
      • Planning for Family Planning After Delivery
      • Preparing for Childbirth and Complications
      • After Childbirth
      • Earliest Time That a Woman Can Start a Family Planning Method After Childbirth
      • Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV
      • Managing Any Breastfeeding Problems
      • Reproductive Health Issues - Introduction
      • Family Planning in Postabortion Care
      • Help Women Obtain Family Planning
      • When to Start Contraceptive Methods
      • Violence Against Women
      • What Can Providers Do?
      • Infertility
      • Preventing Involuntary Infertility
      • Counseling Clients With Fertility Problems
      • Family Planning Provision - Introduction
      • Successful Counseling
      • Who Provides Family Planning?
      • Infection Prevention in the Clinic
      • Make Infection Prevention a Habit
      • Managing Contraceptive Supplies
      • Providing Family Planning Services During an Epidemic - Introduction
      • Maintaining Family Planning Services in an Epidemic
      • Safe Use of Contraceptive Methods in an Epidemic
      • Self-Care for Contraception
      • Use of Digital Health Technologies
    • Comparing Combined Methods
    • Comparing Injectables
    • Comparing Implants
    • Comparing Condoms
    • Comparing IUDs
    • If You Miss Pills
    • Female Anatomy
    • External Anatomy
    • The Menstrual Cycle
    • Male Anatomy
    • Identifying Migraine Headaches and Auras
    • Can a Woman With Migraines and/or Aura Use a Hormonal Method?
    • Considering Progestin-Only Injectables Where HIV Risk Is High: Counseling Tips
    • Ruling Out Pregnancy
    • How and When to Use the Pregnancy Checklist and Pregnancy Tests
    • Pregnancy Checklist
    • Comparing Effectiveness of Family Planning Methods
    • APPENDIX A - Contraceptive Effectiveness
    • APPENDIX B - Signs and Symptoms of Serious Health Conditions
    • APPENDIX C - Medical Conditions That Make Pregnancy Especially Risky
      • APPENDIX D - Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use - Introduction
      • PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND REPRODUCTIVE HISTORY
      • CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
      • NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
      • REPRODUCTIVE TRACT INFECTIONS AND DISORDERS
      • HIV/AIDS
      • OTHER INFECTIONS
      • ENDOCRINE CONDITIONS
      • GASTROINTESTINAL CONDITIONS
      • ANEMIAS
      • DRUG INTERACTIONS
      • ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS
    • Glossary
    • Methodology
    • WHO Guidance Documents Used in Preparation of This Edition of the Handbook

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