Women at high risk for maternal morbidity and mortality have unique needs for reproductive health services, including prenatal and postpartum care, contraception, and abortion. However, barriers such as restrictive state legislation, poor access to trained providers, limits in insurance coverage, and clinical challenges in assessing and communicating risk often make it difficult for these women ... Read more >

Although only 1.3% of abortions in the United States are between 20 and 24 weeks’ gestation, these procedures are associated with elevated risks of morbidity and mortality. Adequate cervical preparation before dilation and evacuation (D&E) at 20–24 weeks’ gestation reduces procedural risk. For this gestational range, at least one day of cervical preparation with osmotic ... Read more >

In policy and law, regulation of abortion is frequently treated differently from other health services. The safety of abortion is similar to that of other types of office- and clinic-based procedures, and facility requirements should be based on assuring high-quality, safe performance of all such procedures. False concerns for patient safety are being used as ... Read more >

These recommendations present an evidence-based assessment of provision of contraceptives at the time of surgical abortion. Most methods of contraception, including the intrauterine devices (IUD), implant, depot medroxyprogesterone injection, oral contraceptive pill, contraceptive patch, monthly vaginal ring, barrier methods and some permanent methods, can be safely initiated immediately after first- or second-trimester surgical abortion. Provision ... Read more >

Barriers to women’s reproductive health care access, particularly for termination of pregnancy, are increasing at the local, regional, and national levels through numerous institutional, legislative, and regulatory restrictions. Lack of access to reproductive health care has negative consequences for women’s health. Twelve women’s health care organizations affirm their support for access to comprehensive reproductive health ... Read more >