Evaluation of Immediate Postpartum Long-Acting Reversible Contraception for Reducing Short Interval Pregnancies

Presenter Information

Andrew Grover, MD, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Molly Haas, BS, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
Amanda Ricard, DO, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PaFollow
Heather Cunningham, MD, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, Pa
Joanne N. Quiñones, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL; Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PaFollow
Amanda Flicker, MD, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL; Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PaFollow

Start Date

5-15-2025 9:30 AM

End Date

5-15-2025 11:30 AM

Description

Objective

• Short interval pregnancy (SIP): any pregnancy that occurs within 18 months of a previous delivery or pregnancy loss.
• SIP is associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes, placenta accreta spectrum,1preterm birth, low birth weight, and small size for gestational age.²
• Long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and subdermal implants offer solutions to the limitations of daily oral contraception. Despite these options, 45% of U.S. pregnancies in 2011 were unintentional.³

While immediate postpartum LARC has been shown to be effective for mitigating unintended pregnancy, implementation of programs providing access to this contraceptive option have posed challenges. In 2019, our health network began an initiative around this service. This study evaluates the uptake of immediate postpartum LARC and the incidence of SIP within our population.

Keywords

postpartum LARC, pregnancy, birth control

Comments

Presented at the 2025 Jefferson Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit.