Treatment: progestogen-only contraception (progestogen-only pill, implant, injectable)

• No laboratory tests are needed to start progestogen-only contraception in a healthy woman.

Depending on the context

• β-hCG (if absence of pregnancy cannot be reasonably certain)if needednon-French guidelineNone of the criteria that allow reasonable certainty that the woman is not pregnant is met (period within the past 7 days at most, no intercourse since the last period, reliable contraception used correctly, etc.): a test can be added, but a negative result does not exclude a very recent pregnancy ^[2].
• Fasting plasma glucoseif neededFrench recommendation (ANAES 2004, taken up by HAS) for any hormonal method: first tests 3 to 6 months after starting, repeated every 5 years; US guidelines consider these tests unnecessary before progestogen-only contraception ^[2,3].
• Lipid profileif neededFrench recommendation (ANAES 2004, taken up by HAS) for any hormonal method: first tests 3 to 6 months after starting, repeated every 5 years; US guidelines consider these tests unnecessary before progestogen-only contraception ^[2,3].
• Chlamydia trachomatis and gonococcus NAAT (PCR) (vaginal self-sample): sexually active woman aged 15 to 25, or risk factorif neededRoutine opportunistic screening of sexually active women aged 15 to 25 years inclusive, and targeted beyond that age (multiple partners, recent partner, STI or history of STI); a vaginal sample, possibly self-collected, is preferred to urine; repeat every year if the test is negative and there has been unprotected intercourse with a new partner ^[4]. See the page "STIs".
• Serum potassiumif neededDrospirenone-only pill (Slinda, authorised in France since 2019), an aldosterone antagonist: its French SmPC asks to check potassium during the first cycle in case of renal failure with serum potassium close to the upper limit before treatment, or of a potassium-sparing drug ^[5]. In the UK, the FSRH considers electrolytes, serum creatinine and blood pressure before prescribing in case of mild to moderate renal impairment or a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes), especially from 50 years ^[6]. The HAS pages (updated in July 2019) predate this pill and do not cover it ^[3].
• Serum creatinineif neededDrospirenone-only pill (Slinda, authorised in France since 2019), an aldosterone antagonist: its French SmPC asks to check potassium during the first cycle in case of renal failure with serum potassium close to the upper limit before treatment, or of a potassium-sparing drug ^[5]. In the UK, the FSRH considers electrolytes, serum creatinine and blood pressure before prescribing in case of mild to moderate renal impairment or a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes), especially from 50 years ^[6]. The HAS pages (updated in July 2019) predate this pill and do not cover it ^[3].