The 2009 NFPRHA Conference wrapped up with several excellent workshops and presentations yesterday. In a particularly impassioned workshop presentation, Linda Dominguez reminded us that no decision is more important than helping a couple plan when they want to have children, and that making a contraceptive choice can be one of the most important decisions women (and their partners) make. She went on to point out that whatever kind of contraception that a woman chooses at a particular point in time should fit in with her reproductive life plan (do you have a reproductive life plan: how many kids do you want to have? When do you want to have them? With whom? Has a provider ever asked about your plan?).

The goal is to have women and men embrace their contraceptive method, and help them to be satisfied with the method they have selected (or help them find another method that might work better for them).

• How can we work to dispel the myths around contraceptive methods and talk more about the fantastic health benefits that are associated with some methods?

• More than one-third of women report that they are using a method of contraception that they don't like - how can we reach these women and help them find a method that they do like?

• The next question is, how can we help women and men use the method they have selected as effectively as possible?

A presentation by Hieke Thiel de Bocanegra of UCSF's Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health offered one innovative way to tackle this second question. A pilot project she is leading (full disclosure: funded by the National Campaign) uses text messaging to remind women that it's time to fill their prescription (e.g., if on the NuvaRing) or visit the clinic for a follow-up appointment (e.g., if they need a Depo shot). The project aims include determining 1) the feasibility of this type of reminder system; 2) the acceptability and usage of this system by providers and clients; and 3) the system's effectiveness. More on this to come as the project progresses...