Background: Increasing accessibility of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods, like intrauterine devices (IUDs), is an important strategy to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy. Unfortunately, concerns about pain with insertion is one of the major barriers to IUD use, especially among nulliparous women. To increase acceptance of this highly effective contraceptive, there is need to investigate ...Read more >

We developed a web-based database to track patients in the Penn Family Planning and Pregnancy Loss Center at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The patients to identify are individuals coming to our clinic for induced abortion, spontaneous abortion, and contraceptive consultation. The database is almost completed; we anticipate final completion by the end ...Read more >

US adolescents have high rates of pregnancy, childbearing, and sexually transmitted infections (STI) highlighting the need to identify and implement effective programs that will help improve their reproductive health. Improving adolescents’ reproductive outcomes is a high priority for the City of Philadelphia, where half of the priority areas in the Health Department’s 2014-2018 Strategic Plan ...Read more >

Objectives: To develop a community-wide contraceptive expansion initiative and assess the change in contraceptive method uptake when cost and access barriers are removed in established family planning clinics. Methods: HER Salt Lake is a prospective cohort study examining three 6-month periods, nested in a quasi

Objectives: The unintended pregnancy rate among active-duty women is 72/1,000 women compared to 52/1,000 women in the general population. Despite this, there is little information about servicewomen’s contraceptive and abortion decision making, use, and access. We sought to understand servicewomen’s experiences accessing contraceptives and abortion care and perspectives on military abortion policy. Methods: Servicewomen who ...Read more >

Objective: To describe common barriers faced by physicians initiating second trimester inpatient abortion services and strategies used to overcome them. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with physicians who initiated or attempted to initiate second trimester inpatient abortion services at US hospitals. Interviews explored participants’ motivation and processes for implementing services, logistics of program implementation, ...Read more >

The objective of this project includes determining if the ovarian follicle possesses the capacity to limit the effectiveness of the emergency contraceptive ulipristal acetate (UPA) through the expression of the drug metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP3A5). Studies conducted through the period of support provided by this SFP Research Fund award included determining the level ...Read more >

There are many safe and highly effective forms of contraception available in the US to prevent unintended pregnancies. These methods also offer short and long-term noncontraceptive benefits. Unintended pregnancy, however, continues to be a public health concern in the US. It is well established that unintended pregnancies are associated with infrequent use and method discontinuation ...Read more >

The proposed study is a randomized controlled trial comparing immediate postpartum to 6 week postpartum etonogestrel implant insertion among adolescent women. This study has received a grant for $20,000 through the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Research Fellowships Program/ Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Research Fellowship in Long Term Contraception. The purpose of this proposal is ...Read more >

Perception of pain during surgical abortion is nuanced and affected by physical as well as psychosocial factors—notably the experience of anxiety—which can significantly increase perceived pain during abortion. It is found that women who suffer from anxiety are more likely to experience greater pain during gynecological procedures. Furthermore, pain management in the setting of gynecologic ...Read more >