While procedural abortions are common outpatient procedures, achieving optimal pain and anxiety relief remains challenging, especially when pharmacologic options such as moderate sedation or general anesthesia are limited. Many patients also wish to avoid the potential risks and inconvenience associated with these options. Exploring alternative or adjunct methods for outpatient pain and anxiety control may ...Read more >

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disproportionately affects individuals of reproductive age and is associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity during pregnancy, particularly in the setting of active disease or exposure to teratogenic medications. Clinical guidelines recommend proactive contraceptive counseling and pregnancy planning for individuals with SLE; however, real-world contraceptive use remains inconsistent, and unintended pregnancy ...Read more >

Surgical abortion is a common and safe procedure, yet many patients experience significant pain and anxiety despite the routine use of moderate sedation. Standard sedation regimens typically rely on opioids and benzodiazepines. However, institutional policies, safety limits, and provider preference can restrict dosing, leaving some patients with inadequate pain control during a physically and emotionally ...Read more >

Rationale: The clinical utility of induced demise prior to second-trimester abortion is debated. A proposed benefit of induced feticide is decreased blood flow to the uterus, thereby decreasing risk for blood loss during the procedure, however studies to further examine this change in physiology are needed. Objectives: (1) Analyze the change in uterine artery doppler ...Read more >

Substance use disorder (SUD) has risen dramatically in the US over the last several decades. However, the impact of SUD on reproductive health remains understudied. Individuals with SUD face a 70 percent higher likelihood of unintended pregnancy; and yet, no standardized guidelines exist on how to provide high quality contraceptive care for the SUD population. ...Read more >

This randomized double-masked superiority trial investigates the difference in perceived pain from osmotic dilator placement using a paracervical block of combined ketorolac and lidocaine compared to ibuprofen and paracervical block with lidocaine alone in patients desiring D&E at 16-24 weeks gestation. 76 patients who are seeking procedural abortion or management of fetal demise with D&E ...Read more >

While early pregnancy loss affects up to one-third of pregnancies, little is known regarding individuals experiencing early pregnancy loss in the context of seeking care at free standing abortion clinics. We propose a retrospective cohort study of patients seeking early pregnancy care at Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL), a large network of freestanding abortion clinics ...Read more >

While professional organizations affirm the safety and efficacy of medication abortion (MAB) at later first trimester gestational durations, US-based evidence remains limited. We propose a prospective cohort, open-label, non-inferiority study to evaluate the efficacy of MAB among 851 patients in four study groups with days gestation determined by ultrasonography: Comparison Group: 64 -70 days (n=267), ...Read more >

Many studies have documented widespread contraceptive misinformation circulating on social media platforms, with much concern about the potential impact this has on individuals’ use of and preferences for contraception. Understanding how misinformation operates is crucial to countering its spread. However, little research has explored how contraceptive misinformation is being drawn upon by individuals making contraceptive ...Read more >

This study investigates how language, identity, and structural inequality shape susceptibility to contraceptive misinformation and disinformation among English- and Spanish-speaking populations in Louisiana. Grounded in the socioecological model and environmental health framework, the project explores how individual cognition and emotion, community-level norms, and broader information environments influence engagement with misinformation. The study responds to persistent ...Read more >