Society of Family Planning Clinical Recommendation: Telemedicine in family planning care part 2 - Contraception.

This Clinical Recommendation provides evidence-informed, person-centered, and equity-driven guidance to optimize contraceptive care via telemedicine in the United States. Recommendations include offering the following contraceptive services via telemedicine: contraceptive counseling, initiation, renewals for methods not requiring procedural placement, and follow-up care for symptoms or complication management not requiring physical exam (GRADE 1B). The person receiving care should have the option to choose their preferred telemedicine service delivery mode, including audio-video, audio-only, or asynchronous care. When prescribing combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs), we suggest clinicians provide clear guidance on how to remotely collect and report blood pressure measurements, why these data are important, and the availability of alternative contraception options if an unacceptable health risk is identified (GRADE 2C). We recommend prescribing a 1-year supply of CHCs without requiring follow-up within that year unless requested by the person receiving care (GRADE 1A). We recommend progestin-only methods as safe and effective options for telemedicine and self-administered contraception provision (GRADE 1A). We recommend a hybrid approach combining telemedicine and in-person care for long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods (GRADE 2B). However, it is important to maintain the option for same-day, in-person LARC provision without requiring prior telemedicine counseling. This document builds upon the Society of Family Planning Committee Statement: Telemedicine in family planning care part 1 - Background and overarching principles and parallels recommendations outlined in the Society of Family Planning Clinical Recommendation: Telemedicine in family planning care part 3 - Abortion. Readers are encouraged to review parts 1 and 3 for this additional context.