Long-acting reversible contraception: reducing unintended pregnancies.

This paper gives a brief history of the development of contraception and looks at the methods available in the U.K., with particular emphasis on National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance about long-acting reversible contraception--injections, implants and intrauterine methods. These methods have the potential to reduce unintended pregnancies, but at present remain underused. Providing positive messages about their ease of use and reversibility, and describing them as 'lasting' rather than 'long-acting' may increase their acceptability.