The copper intrauterine device (IUD) is a safe, long-acting, and effective method of contraception that is under-utilized in many countries, including Malawi. A unique cohort of women who had enrolled in a trial of postpartum IUD use one year earlier gave insights into reasons for using, discontinuing, or not using the IUD. We conducted in-depth ...Read more >

Long-acting reversible contraceptive methods (LARC; intrauterine devices (IUDs) and the subdermal contraceptive implant) have numerous advantages over other forms of contraception; they are long lasting, convenient, reversible, forgettable, well-liked by users, have lower rates of discontinuation, and are cost effective. The levonorgestrel-releasing IUD (LNG-IUD) is FDA-approved for 5 years, and the etonogestrel (ENG) releasing implant ...Read more >

Background: Studies of weight gain in DMPA users have shown mixed results with most showing weight increase however the mechanism of weight gain with DMPA remains unknown. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) provides an important tool for investigating brain regions associated with food motivation. Objective: The primary objective is to examine changes in activation of ...Read more >

Background: There is a paucity of research on access to and provision of family planning services in the rural United States, and specifically little attention has been paid to rural adolescents and their family planning needs. Rural women face general and reproductive health care disparities, which have previously been described. Most available family planning data ...Read more >

Objective: To determine Ugandan women’s perceptions and knowledge of contraception. Methods: Healthy prepartum women were recruited from a national referral and university teaching hospital to participate in one of five focus group discussions on contraception. Transcripts were translated and coded by two researchers using inductive and deductive methods. Results: Forty-six women participated in the focus ...Read more >

Objectives: Incarcerated women experience high rates of unintended pregnancy and many are interested in starting a form of birth control. Despite this contraception is not routinely available at jails and prisons. This study was undertaken to understand women’s perceptions of receiving contraception at Rikers Island Jail. Methods: In depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with women ...Read more >

Objective: To compare 12-month pregnancy rates and time to pregnancy between women discontinuing the intrauterine device (IUD) and women discontinuing non-intrauterine contraceptive methods, including the oral contraceptive pill, contraceptive patch, vaginal ring, or etonogestrel implant. Methods: We recruited sexually active women 18-35 years of age enrolled in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project who had discontinued a ...Read more >

Background: Over 3% of pregnancies are complicated by a fetal abnormality, of which, approximately 80% are terminated. Despite early screening options, women often present at the cusp of legal limits for termination. Study Design: A qualitative study was conducted with women terminating pregnancies for fetal abnormalities. Semi-structured interviews explored reasons for termination timing. Analysis utilized ...Read more >

Objectives: Unplanned pregnancy is a public health problem in the United States, including in rural areas. Primary care physicians are the main providers of health care to women in rural areas, and are uniquely positioned to help reduce unplanned pregnancy in rural women. This study documents provision of contraception by rural primary care physicians, focusing ...Read more >

While previous studies provide interesting insights into baseline knowledge and attitudes towards the IUD, no research to date has examined factors leading to actual IUD initiation in adolescents. The role of the provider and peers in choice of IUDs is also not known. This study will attempt to examine actual predictors of IUD initiators in ...Read more >