Clinical Specialist Education Sessions

Our licensed clinicians are here to educate on the following Paragard topics:

Meet Our Clinical Specialist Team

Paragard Overview & Placement

In this session we will:

  • Provide an overview of Paragard including prescribing information
  • Discuss evidence-based contraceptive counseling recommendations
  • Identify published clinical practice guidelines
  • Practice placement and removal on a pelvic model or virtual simulator

Changes in Menstrual Cycle with Paragard

In this session we will:

  • Discuss typical bleeding alterations with long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)
  • Review the mechanism of action resulting in bleeding with Paragard
  • Consider the impact of bleeding alterations on contraceptive method continuation and satisfaction
  • Identify published recommendations for managing menstrual changes with Paragard
  • Practice placement and removal on a pelvic model or virtual simulator
Register for a live Virtual Session

Immediate Postpartum (IPP) Utilization of Paragard

In this session we will:

  • Discuss the use of LARCs for IPP contraception
  • Identify facilitators and barriers to IPP LARC access, including policy and reimbursement
  • Review data around the safety, efficacy, and continuation of IPP LARCs
  • Practice placement and removal on a pelvic model or virtual simulation

 

This session will not discuss IPP placement techniques.

Overview of Paragard for Adolescent, Young Adult (AYA) and Nulliparous People

In this session we will:

  • Define this special population with unique needs and values
  • Discuss contraceptive care and national goals for AYA sexual and reproductive health
  • Review safety, efficacy, satisfaction, and continuation
  • Reflect on patient experiences and special considerations during placement (e.g. uterine size)
  • Practice placement and removal on a pelvic model or virtual simulator
  • Consider options to manage pain and anxiety with IUS placement in adolescent, young adult, and nulliparous people
  • Review the safety of LARCs and look at efficacy, satisfaction, and continuation with reversible contraception
Register for a live Virtual Session

Meet our Paragard Clinical Specialist Team

Our Clinical Specialist team is comprised of 7 clinicians, each with extensive experience, knowledge, and expertise in placing LARCs and providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.

Lauren Neal

is a board-certified Women’s Healthcare Nurse Practitioner and provides Paragard education and training in the Central region.

Nikole Gettings

is a Certified Nurse Midwife and provides Paragard education and training in the Southeast region.

Gillian Brautigam

is a Certified Nurse Midwife and provides Paragard education and training in the Mountain and Pacific Northwest region.

Jolanta Markiewicz

is a Certified Nurse Midwife and provides Paragard education and training in the Upper Midwest region.

Lora Dibner-Garcia

is a Certified Nurse Midwife and provides Paragard education and training in the Northeast region.

Andrea Conley

is a board-certified Women’s Healthcare Nurse Practitioner and provides Paragard education and training in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Colleen Espenschied

is a certified Physician Assistant who completed a postgraduate residency in Ob/Gyn and provides Paragard education and training in the West region.

Have questions? Contact the clinical specialist team at [email protected]

Access our new Online Virtual Training Simulation

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Important Safety Information

CONTRAINDICATIONS

  • The use of Paragard is contraindicated when one or more of the following conditions exist:
    • Pregnancy or suspicion of pregnancy, abnormalities of the uterus resulting in distortion of the uterine cavity, acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), postpartum or postabortal endometritis in the past 3 months, known or suspected uterine or cervical malignancy, uterine bleeding of unknown etiology, untreated acute cervicitis or vaginitis or other lower genital tract infection, conditions associated with increased susceptibility to pelvic infections, Wilson’s disease, a previously placed IUS that has not been removed, hypersensitivity to any component of Paragard including to copper or any of the trace elements present in the copper component of Paragard. Continue reading

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Paragard is a copper-containing intrauterine system (IUS) indicated for prevention of pregnancy in females of reproductive potential for up to 10 years.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

CONTRAINDICATIONS

  • The use of Paragard is contraindicated when one or more of the following conditions exist:
    • Pregnancy or suspicion of pregnancy, abnormalities of the uterus resulting in distortion of the uterine cavity, acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), postpartum or postabortal endometritis in the past 3 months, known or suspected uterine or cervical malignancy, uterine bleeding of unknown etiology, untreated acute cervicitis or vaginitis or other lower genital tract infection, conditions associated with increased susceptibility to pelvic infections, Wilson’s disease, a previously placed IUS that has not been removed, hypersensitivity to any component of Paragard including to copper or any of the trace elements present in the copper component of Paragard.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

  • Ectopic Pregnancy: Evaluate for possible ectopic pregnancy in any female who becomes pregnant while using Paragard.
  • Intrauterine Pregnancy: Failure to remove Paragard increases the risk of miscarriage, sepsis, premature labor, and premature delivery.
  • Sepsis: Severe infection or sepsis, including Group A Streptococcal Sepsis (GAS), have been reported following insertion of IUSs, including Paragard.
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and Endometritis: Remove Paragard in cases of recurrent PID or endometritis, or if an acute pelvic infection is severe or does not respond to treatment.
  • Embedment: Partial penetration or embedment of Paragard in the myometrium can make removal difficult; surgical removal may be necessary. Breakage of an embedded Paragard during non-surgical removal has been reported.
  • Perforation: Partial or total perforation of the uterine wall or cervix may reduce contraceptive efficacy and result in pregnancy. Delayed detection or removal of Paragard may result in migration outside the uterine cavity, adhesions, peritonitis, intestinal penetration, intestinal obstruction, abscesses and/or damage to adjacent organs. Increased risk when the uterus is fixed, retroverted or not completely involuted during the postpartum period. If perforation does occur, locate and remove Paragard promptly.
  • Expulsion: Partial or complete expulsion of Paragard has been reported, resulting in the loss of contraceptive protection. The risk of expulsion may be increased when the uterus is not completely involuted at the time of insertion. Remove a partially expelled Paragard.
  • Wilson’s Disease: Paragard may exacerbate Wilson’s disease.
  • Bleeding Pattern Alterations: Paragard can alter the bleeding pattern and result in heavier and longer menstrual cycles with intermenstrual spotting.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Safety Information: Non-clinical testing has demonstrated that Paragard is MR Conditional.
  • Medical Diathermy: Avoid using high medical RF transmitter devices in females with Paragard.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

  • Adverse reactions reported in clinical trials include anemia, backache, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, expulsion (complete or partial), prolonged menstrual flow, menstrual spotting, pain and cramping, and vaginitis.

Please see full Prescribing Information