We conducted a multisite, double blind, randomized clinical trial to assess the utility of nitrous oxide for pain relief in early second trimester abortion. This study randomized participants to receive either inhaled nitrous oxide or intravenous (IV) sedation with fentanyl and midazolam. We included women desiring abortion at gestational ages between 12 weeks 0 days ...Read more >

Obesity is a major public health problem in the United States, and the number of bariatric procedures has exponentially increased in the last decade concordant with this epidemic. Bariatric surgery affords several important long-term benefits, but for women of reproductive age there may be complications that are of particular importance to pregnancies conceived in the ...Read more >

Objective: To compare pain scores during cervical dilator placement prior to dilation and evacuation with patient-administered vaginal lidocaine gel versus lidocaine paracervical block (PCB). Study design: We conducted an unblinded randomized trial of women ≥18 years of age undergoing surgical abortion at ≥16 weeks’ gestation in two outpatient clinics. We randomized participants to receive self-administered lidocaine gel ...Read more >

Background: Negative body image contributes to negative health behaviors, particularly eating disorders. In sexual health, women with negative body image are less likely to use a condom than women with positive body image. However, there is little research on how body image influences use of the various birth control methods available to young women. Methods: ...Read more >

More abortion restrictions were enacted across the United States (US) between 2011-2013 than in the entire previous decade. Supporters of legislation restricting abortion access claim these laws are necessary to ensure the safety of abortion services and the health of women. However, abortion in the US is already safe. The mortality rate from 2000-2009 was 0.7 ...Read more >

Postpartum contraception to promote birth spacing and prevent unwanted pregnancies is important but under-utilized. A key time for contraceptive initiation is at the postpartum visit, but this is traditionally scheduled for 6 weeks postpartum, after many women return to fertility and lose pregnancy-related health insurance. This creates barriers to accessing long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), including ...Read more >

Research shows that at least 86% of college students have reported intercourse at some point in their life and 68% report current sexual activity[.  This group has also been shown to engage in more high-risk sexual behavior including frequent partner change, sex without condoms and sex without the use of birth control.  The Surgeon General’s ...Read more >

The perinatal period is an important time to counsel patients and initiate a highly effective method of postpartum contraception. While the evidence of safety, effectiveness, and long-term continuation of postpartum contraception is established, less is known about the best approaches to counsel patients about their options for postpartum contraception. Within women’s health care and preventative ...Read more >

Surgical abortion can provide an important opportunity to start contraception, but the most effective contraceptive methods are underused.  Structural barriers, such as clinic flow, device stocking, and insurance reimbursement, have historically limited access to post-abortion long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), which includes the intrauterine device and the subdermal implant.  In addition, patients may be poorly informed ...Read more >

For a woman seeking an abortion, an informed, timely, non-judgmental referral from a general clinician has the potential to expedite care and assist the woman in navigating a complicated and tumultuous landscape.  However, it is unclear from the currently available literature whether general practitioners have either the knowledge or willingness to make meaningful abortion referrals, ...Read more >