Benefits of Hormonal Contraception Across the Lifespan: A Case-Based, Interactive Curriculum

Date of Review: October, 2025

This resource, from MedED PORTAL, introduces second-year medical students to patient-centered counseling for hormonal contraceptives and hormones, with a specific focus on addressing SDOH such as implicit bias, trauma-informed care, and the needs of gender and sexual minority patients. The curriculum is implemented as a single 2-hour session within a mandatory 5-week transition to clerkship course, combining an interactive large-group didactic with case-based collaborative learning in small groups. The strengths include: 1) its expansion beyond traditional contraception teaching to address medically complex patients and non-contraceptive hormone uses, 2) explicit focus on marginalized populations including non-cisgender individuals and incorporation of trauma-informed care principles, 3) emphasis on recognizing contraception coercion and bias while promoting patient-centered counseling, 4) inclusion of practical clinical resources (CDC eligibility criteria, infographics) for future use, 5) robust case based collaborative learning which promotes active engagement. Longitudinal assessment demonstrated that 71% of students found it valuable preparations for future clinical encounters. Limitations include the variable time interval between OBGYN clerkship (3-12 months) which some students reported made retention challenging. Also even though the study assesses self-reported attitudes and knowledge, it does not measure changes in learner knowledge with pre/post tests. –Heba Osman, MD, NCEAS

Corresponding Author’s Email:

dbartz@bwh.harvard.edu

Institution:

Harvard Medical School

Where was the Curriculum Implemented:

Boston, Massachusetts

Relevant Specialty:

OBGYN/Womens Health

Outcomes that Have Been Reported for the Curriculum:

Learner Satisfaction or reaction

Self-reported learner attitude

Self-reported learner knowledge

Outcome and Study Design:

Post Only

Level of Learner Assessment

Appreciation of content/attitude assessment (self-reflection, blogging with rubric)