Women with chronic medical problems are at higher risk for complications during pregnancy and
therefore they are especially in need of appropriate preconception and contraception care.
Furthermore many women with chronic medical problems do not obtain adequate preconception and
contraception care. Despite published guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention there is a substantial gap in medical practice regarding the use of contraception
in women with co-existing medical problems. Contraception for the Medically Challenging Patient
fills the gap that currently exists in the knowledge of correct contraceptive prescribing
practice and shows that inappropriate contraindications can easily become a barrier to
effective contraception use among women. Chapters highlight obsolete views about appropriate
candidates for contraception and address the complex contraceptive needs of today's medically
challenging patients with HIV AIDS uterine fibroids or cardiac neurologic or thyroid disease.
The book gives attention to recommendations on the use of contraception in women with medical
problems such as diabetes obesity epilepsy and lupus among others and provides
comprehensive information regarding the effects that certain drugs may have on contraceptive
hormone levels. While national guidelines do exist for contraceptive eligibility this book
discusses in more detail the evidence behind the guideline recommendations and the nuances that
clinicians confront in daily practice.
