Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: A Primer for the Primary Care Pediatrician.

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is the most effective method of preventing pregnancy in young women and adolescents. The two types of LARC methods are the intrauterine device and the implantable rod device. The success of these methods is demonstrable due to the "perfect use" and "typical use" failure rates being near identical. Pediatricians must be comfortable counseling patients, including adolescents, about LARC methods and how to access them. This primer provides some background about the types of LARC methods, details about their efficacy and side effects, and the role of the primary pediatrician. [Pediatr Ann. 2017;46(3):e79-e82.].