On March 4, 2024, the first daily over-the-counter oral contraceptive pill became available in the United States. This progestin-only pill (POP) is approved without a prescription for adolescents and adults to prevent pregnancy. The FDA did not approve this POP for menstrual suppression or other noncontraceptive indications. For both adults and adolescents, over-the-counter access to ... Read more >

Mifepristone approval by the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration in 2000 revolutionized abortion care in this country. In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization which eliminated federal constitutional protections for abortion, the accessibility and availability of mifepristone are under increasing threat. Medication abortion regimens ... Read more >

On January 3, 2023, updates to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) for mifepristone for reproductive health indications went into effect. The FDA has permanently removed the in-person dispensing requirement and added a new pharmacy certification process, which will enable retail pharmacies that meet certain qualifications to dispense ... Read more >

The highly politicized nature of abortion care in this country can make it difficult for institutions and obstetric providers to thoughtfully remark upon and plan for policy decisions that impact patient care. Individuals at high risk for pregnancy mortality and morbidity have unique needs for reproductive health services, including abortion care. Variations in state and ... Read more >

Cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy is a complication in which an early pregnancy implants in the scar from a previous cesarean delivery. This condition presents a substantial risk for severe maternal morbidity and mortality because of challenges in securing a prompt diagnosis. Ultrasound is the primary imaging modality for cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy diagnosis, although a ... Read more >

To address limitations that exist with existing definitions of menstrual bleeding changes that occur with contraceptive methods, we assembled a panel to develop new recommendations for standardization of bleeding data analyses associated with contraceptive use to better inform users, clinicians, investigators, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory agencies. We propose three criteria for assessing bleeding outcomes: pattern, ... Read more >

Women should be provided with evidence-based information when considering options for contraception and pregnancy management. When counseling about health conditions and available treatments, healthcare practitioners should employ strategies that encourage the incorporation of informed patient preferences into a shared decision-making process with the patient. To optimize the health of women at risk of experiencing adverse ... Read more >

Here you can learn evidence-based ways to: Evaluate patients prior to provision of mifepristone for early abortion or miscarriage management; effectively counsel patients regarding medication abortion; and discuss criteria to determine the need for additional clinical services after use of mifepristone. CME credit is available for completing this 1 hour training.

In the United States, more than one half of pregnancies are unintended, with 3 in 10 women having an abortion by age 45 years. In 2008, 1.2 million abortions occurred in the United States, of which 6.2% took place between 13 weeks of gestation and 15 weeks of gestation, and 4.0% took place at 16 ... Read more >