Women's health

Overview

What is women’s health?

Accredo dispenses specialty medications for a variety of specialty women’s health needs such as: endometriosis and long-acting contraceptives. We also have a dedicated infertility care team (follow link for more information).

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is when the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. This can cause pain, difficulty becoming pregnant, bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods, and digestive problems. Endometriosis can be found on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and outer surface of the uterus, among other places.¹

The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown. Risk factors may include abdominal surgery, family history, immune disorders, age or menstrual irregularities.

Endometriosis can be treated with hormone medications such as birth control or medications called a gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Oral and injectable options are available. Sometimes, surgery can be a treatment option.¹

Contraception

Contraception, or birth control, helps reduce the occurrence of unintended pregnancies. Planning or preventing pregnancy may also be an important part of treating certain medical conditions or prevent harm while taking certain medications. Correct and consistent use of birth control increases the effectiveness of the birth control. Many types of contraception exist such as barrier methods, hormonal pills, implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs), patches, and rings. Your health care provider can help you decide which method or combination of methods is right for you. Long acting agents, such as IUD’s and implants, have higher effectiveness due to easier compliance.² IUDs and implants provided by Accredo are shipped to the doctor’s office and then administered by a health care provider.

Birth control alone will not provide protection against sexually transmitted infections (STI), so it is important to discuss condom use, STI testing, and STI vaccinations with your healthcare provider.

More about women’s health

Endometriosis

• It is estimated that 11% of women in the United States have endometriosis.³
• Up to 30-50% of women with endometriosis may experience infertility.⁶

Contraception

• About 37% of births in the United States were unintended at the time of conception.⁴
• 62% of women ages 15-44 years old use some form of contraception.⁵

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Questions regarding your women’s health therapy?

You can reach the Accredo women’s health care team, anytime, day or night, seven days a week.

24-hour Customer Service Center

800-803-2523

1. “Women's Health Frequently Asked Questions.” American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Updated February 2021. Accessed May 31, 2023 https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/endometriosis

2. “Birth Control Methods.” Office of Women's Health, Updated December 29, 2022. www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/birth-control-methods. Accessed May 31, 2023.

3. “Endometriosis.” Womenshealth.gov, Updated February 22, 2021. www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/endometriosis. Accessed May 31, 2023.

4. “Health Equity.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Reviewed May 1, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/index.html. Accessed May 31, 2023.

5. “Reproductive Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9 Feb. 2017, www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/index.htm. Accessed 26 February 2018.

6. Macer, M.L., Taylor, H.S. (2012). Endometriosis and Infertility: A review of the pathogenesis and treatment of endometriosis-associated infertility. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America; 39(4): 535–549, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3538128/. Accessed 24 February 2020.

7. “Preterm Birth’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 April 2020 https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/pretermbirth.htm