Ultrasound is frequently performed prior to medical abortion in order to determine whether a woman is eligible to receive mifepristone and misoprostol to induce abortion, which is available up to 70 days from the last menstrual period. Many providers routinely use transvaginal sonography, or TVS, yet numerous evidence-based guidelines do not recommend the routine use ...Read more >

Building off of previous research that showed a benefit to self-administered lidocaine gel prior to surgical abortion (my primary fellowship project), we sought to determine if the same approach (patient-applied vaginal lidocaine gel) would help decrease pain with other similar gynecologic procedures. The objective of this study was to compare pain control at various time ...Read more >

Objectives: To compare the expulsion rate at 6 months after postplacental insertion by intrauterine device (IUD) type. Study design: This prospective cohort included participants with a postplacental IUD inserted after vaginal or cesarean delivery, aged 18–45 and ≥24weeks’ gestation. Study enrollment took place after IUD selection and insertion. Participants returned for a postpartum visit and ...Read more >

Despite their predominantly pro-choice attitudes, US primary care physicians view abortion as an “adverse outcome” and a procedure that should be “rare”. This project seeks to define the knowledge base and attitudes of US primary care physicians around abortion, and how these misconceptions and lack of knowledge translate into the pro-choice medical community’s reluctance to ...Read more >

Background: While morbidity with surgical abortion is rare, later gestational age is a known risk factor for complications. Referral to a second healthcare provider delays abortion and this delay may result in significant increases in gestational age at the time of procedure. Referral may also increase the patient-incurred costs associated with obtaining an abortion. No ...Read more >

Formative research is needed to evaluate the counseling for immediate postpartum LARC, particularly for the post-placental IUD when there is a finite and clinically significant window of time for placement. The importance of this decision-making process is highlighted by providers’ concern for the potential coercion during labor and the higher risk of expulsion that comes ...Read more >

Opioid use in the United States has continued to increase over the past few decades, including among reproductive-aged women.  Substance use disorders can affect women’s reproductive and sexual health in multiple ways, ranging from irregular menses to sexually transmitted diseases, sexual abuse and unplanned pregnancy.  Several barriers to obtaining reproductive health care have been identified ...Read more >

A qualitative research study evaluating current role of male partners in contraceptive decision-making and identification of future interventions to increase male partner involvement and support of LARC methods.

Background: There are a growing number of adolescent girls involved in the juvenile justice system, including those detained in juvenile detention centers. These girls tend to have higher rates of sexual activity, sexually transmitted infections, and unintended pregnancy, and less access to routine health care.  Study purpose: We used principles of patient-centered care to explore ...Read more >

We aim to understand reasons adolescent females accessing emergency contraception in school-based health centers utilize emergency contraception, non-emergenct contraeption, and condoms. We will utilize interviews and surveys to assess contraceptve decision making and beliefs surrounding pregnancy risk and emergency contraceptive efficacy. We plan to assess rates of use of emergent and non-emergent contraception through a chart reviews. We ...Read more >