Background: New strategies are needed to help people overcome barriers to abortion and achieve greater reproductive autonomy. Demedicalized models for medication abortion care have the potential to greatly expand access to abortion, particularly for those most affected by distance and cost barriers. Methods: The study is a patient-centered, clinically supported, prospective observational study among people ...Read more >

Background: Current regulations restrict access to medication abortion and contribute to the perception that women cannot safely take medication abortion pills (mifepristone and misoprostol) on their own without clinician supervision. However, these drugs meet many of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria for being available over the counter (OTC). Medication abortion is safe, has ...Read more >

Background: While mifepristone has the potential to expand abortion access in the US through integration into primary care, initial expectations for provision by family physicians have not been realized. Research indicates that physician motivation to provide medication abortion is an important factor in overcoming logistical and organizational barriers to abortion provision. Methods: For this project, ...Read more >

Background: A rapid increase in legislation restricting access to clinical abortion services in the US has sparked renewed interest in self-managed abortion as a response to clinic access barriers. At the same time, rising interest in self-care and the role of the internet as a go-to source of goods and services raises the possibility that ...Read more >

Background: Mifepristone did not “revolutionize” access to abortion in the ways originally anticipated. However, in the 17 years since its approval it has changed the face of abortion care, potentially in ways that have increased access. In 2014, nearly-one third of abortions were early medication procedures, and 26% of clinic facilities provided only early medication ...Read more >

Background: The Mifeprex® Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) requires that the drug be dispensed only in a clinic, office, or hospital, despite the lack of evidence that this improves safety. In a recent survey of obstetrician-gynecologists (Ob-Gyns), we found that only 14% provided medication abortion, but an additional 15% said they would provide it ...Read more >

Background: While medication abortion has the potential to expand abortion access, barriers persist. One such barrier may be locating a provider. Research has shown that individuals commonly use the internet to self-refer for abortion services. However, we have previously shown that the quality of information available online for abortion self-referral is low, and it is ...Read more >

Developments in new medical technologies and increased access to health-related information online have led to a surge in self-care or “DIY medicine,” loosely defined as the attempt by lay people to self-manage their healthcare outside of the formal medical setting. This study will explore the influence of social networks on a particularly stigmatized health behavior: ...Read more >

Objective: Pre-gestational diabetes increases the risks of adverse maternal and neonatal pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia, preterm delivery, neonatal macrosomia, and birth defects. These risks are further increased if the pregnancy was unplanned. This study aims to examine the prevalence, predictors, and consequences of unplanned pregnancy among women of reproductive age with pre-gestational diabetes in ...Read more >

Despite the method’s effectiveness and safety, vasectomy remains an underutilized contraceptive method in the US. National data has shown there are significant disparities in vasectomy use based on men’s racial/ethnic identity, education, and income, however, questions remain about why these differences exist. Currently, there is limited empirical data on men’s views on vasectomy to help ...Read more >