IWC OFFERS LONG-ACTING REVERSIBLE CONTRACEPTIVE (LARC)

IWC Medical Centre is now offering the Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) option Mirena, which is a hormone-releasing IUD that can prevent pregnancy for up to six years.

It also can help in the treatment of heavy menstrual periods.

IWC Medical Director Dr Alicia Kohn said: “The Mirena treatment is now offered to both existing IWC Medical Centre patients and women who are not our patients, and as with all IWC services this treatment is delivered in a culturally responsive manner.

“Dr Julia Sullivan is providing the treatment at the IWC Health & Wellbeing Complex in Bundaberg. Mirena can be used by any female regardless of whether they have had a child.”

Key points are:

· Mirena is a small intrauterine device, or IUD, put in place through a non-surgical procedure.

· It is reversible, so the patient can have it removed in a non-surgical procedure at any time.

· There is no lapse time for seeking to become pregnant after the removal of the device.

Dr Kohn said: “The LARC IUD removes the need to take a daily oral contraceptive pill, or use other options that require weekly, monthly or three-monthly application. Condoms are still recommended for protection against Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

“The use of LARCs has been for some years globally accepted as a strategy that is successful in decreasing rates of unintended pregnancy, especially in very young women.”

Other LARC products, including Kyleena and the copper IUD, also are available at IWC Medical Centre.

In August this year, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) released a range of resources for GPs to support increased uptake of IUDs, including Mirenas, as contraception in Australia.

GP Dr Meredith Frearson, who helped to develop the suite of GP resources around IUDs, told the RACGP’s NewsGP publication[1] : “Multiple studies around the world agree that the provision of longer acting reversible contraceptive methods is desirable to reduce unwanted pregnancy rates.

“The Mirena … is also advised as the most effective non-surgical management for heavy menstrual bleeding in our Australian guidelines, a condition affecting one in four menstruating women.’

Dr Kohn said: “This service sits within the IWC’s holistic model of whole-of-person care, which is designed to empower our patients and clients. This service is now available to both existing clients and non-patients of IWC.”

Dr Kohn is a member of the RACGP and the IWC Medical Centre is accredited by AGPAL (Australian General Practitioner Accreditation Ltd).

Contact IWC Medical Centre on 1300 492 492 for details.

Figure 1: https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/october/larcs-as-first-line-contraception/