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Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC): IUD/IUS, implant, injection

A Canadian clinical summary of long-acting reversible contraception (larc): iud/ius, implant, injection, with source-attributed priorities and explicit jurisdiction boundaries.

JurisdictionCanada
Source check2026-08-20
Clinical reviewiatroX editorial team 路 Clinical editorial review 路 reviewed 2026-08-20 路 due 2027-08-20
AudienceHealthcare professionals practising in Canada
This is an iatroX educational summary of named Canada sources, not an official guideline. It does not replace the complete source documents, local policy, specialist advice or clinical judgement. The evidence source is pan-Canadian, but formularies, funded access, referral routes, public-health directions and service availability remain provincial or territorial.

Source and scope

This summary is bounded to the recommendations, population and decisions covered by Canadian Contraception Consensus, Chapter 7: Intrauterine Contraception. Apply it with the current provincial or territorial pathway where implementation differs.
sources for this section:SOGC intrauterine contraception

Source-attributed clinical priorities

  • Offer intrauterine and implant methods without restricting them by age or parity when medically eligible.
  • Use shared decisions on effectiveness, bleeding pattern, pain management, duration, reversibility and noncontraceptive benefits.
  • Exclude pregnancy and active relevant infection as indicated and provide complication and removal-access advice.
  • Confirm that removal will be available whenever the patient requests it before insertion.
sources for this section:SOGC intrauterine contraception

Practical assessment and management workflow

1
Clarify pregnancy risk, bleeding goals, uterine history, infection risk, medicines and preferred duration.
2
Discuss implant and intrauterine options, procedural pain, expected bleeding and noncontraceptive effects.
3
Use a trained insertion technique after relevant examination and testing.
4
Confirm placement where required and provide written advice on complications, bleeding and removal.
sources for this section:SOGC intrauterine contraception

Safety, red flags and urgent escalation

  • Pregnancy, active pelvic infection or unexplained concerning bleeding needs assessment before an intrauterine method.
  • Severe pain, fever, heavy bleeding or a missing device with pregnancy symptoms requires urgent review.
  • Check enzyme-inducing interactions for the implant and do not assume all long-acting methods are affected equally.
sources for this section:SOGC intrauterine contraception

Confirm the local pathway before acting

The evidence source is pan-Canadian, but formularies, funded access, referral routes, public-health directions and service availability remain provincial or territorial.
sources for this section:SOGC intrauterine contraception

Source and implementation boundary

Read this educational summary with the linked source, current Canadian product information where medicines are involved, and the applicable provincial or territorial pathway. Local formularies, reporting duties, referral routes and service availability can differ.
sources for this section:SOGC intrauterine contraception

Source documents

Use the linked source documents for complete recommendations, evidence grading, exclusions and implementation detail.

  1. Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of CanadaCanadian Contraception Consensus, Chapter 7: Intrauterine Contraceptionaccessed 2026-08-20
    view source
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