This episode covers key updates to the contraception and reproductive health guidelines that will impact pharmacists, along with patient case examples.

The CDC updated their Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use and Selected Practice Recommendations guidelines. The Office of Population Affairs also updated the Quality Family Planning recommendations.

Resource Links:

MEC Chart, MEC Full Guidelines, SPR Full Guidelines, and QFP Recommendations available at:

https://birthcontrolpharmacist.com/clinical-resources/ 

CDC MEC/SPR app iOS 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/contraception/id595752188?OCID=MY01SV&form=MY01SV 

CDC MEC/SPR app Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.cdc.ondieh.nccdphp.contraception2&form=MY01SV&OCID=MY01SV&pli=1 

Guest host Kayla Peralta, student pharmacist from UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, speaks with her classmates about recent events and policy changes.

Victoria Nichols, Director of Free the Pill coalition, shares the journey to the first-ever daily birth control pill approved by the FDA for OTC use in the United States.

Opill was approved by the FDA in 2023 and became available on store shelves in 2024. The Free the Pill coalition (formerly known as the Oral Contraceptives Over-the-Counter Working Group) has been working since 2004 to build the evidence in support of OTC birth control pills in the United States.

Connect with our guests and their work:

Victoria Nichols, Director of Free the Pill coalition, Ibis Reproductive Health

Instagram: @freethepill

Website: https://freethepill.org/

Does your pharmacy offer youth friendly services?

Our guests Dr. Don Downing and Madelynn Bovasso discuss their advocacy efforts to expand reproductive services to young people, and outline strategies to improve access for this population.

Learn how you can incorporate youth services into your practice in this episode. Youth and young adults deal with numerous barriers that impact their access to reproductive care. In order for patients to feel comfortable asking a pharmacist questions, it is imperative we create an environment that is inclusive and welcoming. We discuss the services pharmacists provide and how they can take action to create a safe environment for these patients. Pharmacists can partner with schools for outreach that they are here to serve this population. The importance of offering youth friendly services can allow this population to gain access to reproductive health services. The conversation closes by identifying the barriers for pharmacists offering youth services and discussing ways to improve access for this patient population.

To claim CPE credit, visit https://birthcontrolpharmacist.com/podcast

Learn more about Advocates for Youth: https://www.advocatesforyouth.org/

How can we support rural communities?

Our guests Dr. Danielle Colayco and Ashley Rojas discuss the barriers to reproductive care that rural communities face, and ways that pharmacists can be a resource and bridge gaps in care.

Rural communities are disproportionately affected when it comes to reproductive care. These communities face challenges to access basic healthcare services. In rural communities patients have to travel further to access healthcare services. Rural communities have been negatively impacted by pharmacy closures which increases the burden these communities and remaining pharmacies face. Pharmacists who work in rural areas where pharmacies have closed can use this as an opportunity to build up their services and serve as a resource to their community. One way to connect patients to community services is by mapping community social resources, such as food banks, domestic violence shelters, and mental health services. By taking action, pharmacists can help bridge the gap in rural communities and ensure everyone has access to healthcare services.

To claim CPE credit, visit https://birthcontrolpharmacist.com/podcast

Connect with our guests and their work:

Ashley Rojas, Executive Director of Fresno Barrios Unidos

   Instagram: @fresnobarriosunidos

   Website: https://fresnobarriosunidos.org/

Danielle Colayco, PharmD, MS, Executive Director of Komoto Family Foundation

   Instagram: @komotofamilyfoundationofficial

   Website: https://www.komotofamilyfoundation.org/

What does reproductive justice mean to you?

Our guests Dr. Kajua Lor, Dr. Christina Madison and Attorney Jennifer Chou joined us to discuss the reproductive justice movement, their work and experiences, and how to incorporate the principles into your practice.

Reproductive justice is the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities. To support this right for all people, pharmacists can facilitate access to healthcare services. It is important for pharmacists to show they are here for their community members by valuing their patients and providing services, such as contraceptives. Pharmacists should provide contraceptive access to all patients to the extent possible. Patients will remember the pharmacist who takes the time to help them understand their options and feel agency over their reproductive health. We discuss how reproductive justice differs from reproductive rights. We then discuss the work that is being done to help support the reproductive justice movement and share ways that pharmacists can adopt reproductive justice into their practices.

To claim CPE credit, visit https://birthcontrolpharmacist.com/podcast

Connect with our guests and their work:

Kajua Lor, PharmD, BCACP

   Instagram: @kajualorpharmd

   Twitter: @kajualorpharmd

   Website: https://kajualorpharmd.wixsite.com/kajualorpharmd

Christina Madison, PharmD, FCCP, AAHIVP

   Instagram: @thepublichealthpharmacist

   Twitter: @publichealthrx

   Website: https://www.thepublichealthpharmacist.com/

Jennifer Chou, J.D.

   Twitter: @_jenchou @aclu_norcal

   ACLU page: https://www.aclunc.org/staff/jennifer-chou

What is health equity?

Our guest speakers Drs. Vibhuti Arya and Dima Qato do extensive work in public health, and joined us for a conversation about how pharmacists can promote health equity and serve their communities.

Health equity refers to individuals being able to attain the highest level of health they can without any socially determined factors. Pharmacists are in the unique position to help promote health equity and understand the concerns their community faces. The role of the pharmacist goes beyond medication dispensing as they can truly provide valuable services to their community and promote health equity. In regards to reproductive health, pharmacists can help provide access and education by providing patient-centered care. This is a valuable skill that pharmacists can use to have a direct impact on the patients they care for. During this episode, you will learn factors that impact health equity, impacted patient populations, and how social determinants can impact reproductive health. The conversation closes with tips on how pharmacists can incorporate health equity into their practice.

To claim CPE credit, visit https://birthcontrolpharmacist.com/podcast

Connect with our guests and their work:

Vibhuti Arya, PharmD, MPH

   Twitter: @vibhutiarya

   Website: https://vibhutiarya.com/

Dima Qato, PharmD, MPH, PhD

   Twitter: @dimamqato