Start Hormonal Birth Control
Market: Young Adult
Scenario: A young adult decides to start using birth control and has potentially difficult conversations about their decision. They schedule appointments with their healthcare provider to discuss options and choose the most suitable type for their needs. After obtaining the prescription or device, they ensure they understand how to use it correctly. They monitor their experience for any side effects and, if necessary, work with their provider to change the type of birth control to find the best fit for their well-being.
Average Difficulty: Intense (8-49% Range).
50 Outcomes 8% to 49% Difficulty.
Research Insights
The research suggests that starting birth control can be challenging particularly when it comes to having difficult conversations with parents, quickly finding the right type of birth control, and monitoring side effects. The most difficult outcomes relate to parental permission, discussing birth control with parents, and keeping a diary to track health effects.
Job Steps
1. Have Potentially Difficult Conversations
2. Schedule Appointments
3. Choose the Right Type of Birth Control
4. Get the Prescription/Device and Understand How to Use it
5. Monitor your Use (to Make Sure there are no Side Effects)
6. Change the Type of Birth Control if it is not Working for You
Themes Identified
- Communication and Support: Discussing birth control with parents, getting permission, finding support, and having healthy conversations with partners.
- Choosing and Accessing Birth Control: Understanding options, quickly finding the right type, learning pros and cons, and getting information from doctors.
- Monitoring and Managing Side Effects: Tracking health effects, quickly seeing a doctor for extreme side effects, and regular check-ins with healthcare providers.
Recommendations
- Develop a digital platform that provides comprehensive, age-appropriate information about different types of birth control, their pros and cons, and potential side effects.
- Create a secure, anonymous forum where users can ask questions, share experiences, and receive support from healthcare professionals and peers.
- Offer a digital tool that helps users track their birth control use, side effects, and overall health, with the option to share this information with their healthcare provider.
- Partner with healthcare providers to develop a streamlined process for scheduling appointments and accessing birth control, including options for virtual consultations.
Cautions
- Avoid creating content or tools that may alienate or stigmatize those who have difficulty discussing birth control with their parents or partners.
- Do not oversimplify the process of choosing the right birth control, as individual needs and preferences can vary significantly.
- Ensure that any digital platforms or tools prioritize user privacy and confidentiality, given the sensitive nature of the topic.
- Be cautious not to overwhelm users with too much information or too many options, as this may lead to increased anxiety or confusion.
- Do not neglect the importance of encouraging open communication with healthcare providers, as they play a crucial role in helping users make informed decisions about their birth control.
Outcomes
The difficulty percent below are the percent of the market that finds this outcome difficult to achieve.
| Difficulty | Outcome |
|---|---|
| 49% | Increase the number of walk-in appointments for the regular birth control shots (e.g., Depo) |
| 46% | Increase my awareness that I needed my parent(s) permission |
| 45% | Increase the ease of discussing birth control with my parent(s) |
| 44% | Increase my understanding that I should write down my tracking of health issues |
| 43% | Increase the reasons given when the doctor denies my specific birth control request |
| 39% | Decrease the time it takes to find the right birth control for me |
| 37% | Increase the ease of scheduling appointments for the regular birth control shots (e.g., Depo) |
| 35% | Decrease the time it takes to see a doctor if I have extreme side effects |
| 34% | Increase the amount of support if I can not go to my parents due to their views |
| 33% | Increase my ability to remember to take my birth control regularly |
| 32% | Increase my amount of research the pros and cons of different types of birth control |
| 32% | Increase the ease of scheduling a doctor's appointment if I have extreme side effects |
| 32% | Increase the number of possible side effects that I know to look for |
| 31% | Increase my confidence that I don't want to have any children |
| 31% | Increase information about my options for costs and insurance |
| 31% | Increase the ease of tracking how its going |
| 30% | Minimize the number of different birth control options that I try to find one that is right |
| 30% | Increase my understanding of long-term health effects of birth control |
| 30% | Increase the ease of changing birth control that isn't right for me |
| 30% | Increase information about what the dosage and side effects mean for you |
| 28% | Increase my ability to understand the many types of birth control |
| 28% | Increase the number of generic options available |
| 28% | Increase my confidence that I am making the right decisions when I change birth control |
| 27% | Increase my knowledge of which health issues birth control is causing or not (e.g., headaches, emotional health issues) |
| 26% | Increase my understanding of what I should monitor |
| 26% | Increase my doctor's ability to know birth control is the best fit for me (e.g., without trial and error) |
| 26% | Decrease the cost of my birth control prescription |
| 25% | Increase my knowledge of other benefits of birth control (e.g., regular cycles, reduce acne, reduce cramping) |
| 24% | Increase access to non-judgemental resources to talk to (e.g., therapist, guide, or counselor) |
| 24% | Decrease the time it takes to stop birth control if it is not working for me |
| 23% | Increase the amount of guidance about how to track side effects and know how birth control can effect me |
| 23% | Increase the number of written information about birth control options from my doctor |
| 22% | Decrease the stigma and judgement around birth control |
| 22% | Increase the ability to have someone check in and make sure things are going well |
| 22% | Increase the amount of information about birth control side effects for each type of birth control |
| 21% | Decrease the feeling of pressure to start a specific birth control type |
| 21% | Increase the amount of instructions that are written (e.g, not just verbal) |
| 21% | Increase the amount that my doctor really listens to my needs |
| 20% | Increase my comfort opening up to my doctor |
| 20% | Decrease the time it takes to know if my current birth control will give me side effects |
| 19% | Increase the number of regular check-ins with my doctor to see if there should be a change |
| 18% | Increase the amount of information about birth control |
| 18% | Increase the ease of scheduling an appointment with your doctor to start birth control |
| 17% | Increase my ability to have a healthy conversation with my sexual partner |
| 16% | Increase the amount of information about the risks of birth control |
| 16% | Increase the amount of information about birth control that my doctor can provide |
| 15% | Increase the amount information about the how to get birth control |
| 13% | Increase my ease of picking up my prescription from the pharmacy |
| 12% | Increase my piece of mind after talking to my doctor |
| 8% | Increase the ease of discussing birth control with my doctor |
