Background: Laws mandating parental consent or notification for minors seeking abortion currently affect girls in 38 states. Over the last three years, legislators proposed over 90 measures to introduce new or strengthen existing laws in 27 states. Despite their prevalence, parental involvement laws’ effects on girls’ access to and experience of abortion remain poorly described, ...Read more >

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is a progestin-only, hormonal contraceptive that is extremely effective, obviates the need for daily or weekly compliance, and can be used privately. DMPA is very appealing for the adolescent contraceptive user. Despite its many advantages, DMPA continuation rates are low in adolescents. Side effects, namely weight gain and bone mineral density ...Read more >

Background: While prior research has shown that psychological health prior to an abortion is a strong predictor of post-abortion mental health and coping, research understanding the role of psychological health in other important post-abortion outcomes, such as contraceptive decision-making is lacking. Objective: The goal of this research is to examine how women’s levels of depression, ...Read more >

This project will assess the unmet demand for female sterilization in a sample of Mexican origin oral contraceptive users, as well the factors underlying that demand and the availability of this method of contraception in El Paso, Texas. It will build on the research findings and infrastructure of the project “Border Contraceptive Access Study,” in ...Read more >

Background: Women in the US have extraordinarily high rates of unintended pregnancy, with poor and minority women disproportionately experiencing this adverse reproductive health outcome. This high rate of unintended pregnancies is caused in part by the under-use and misuse of effective contraceptive methods. As in the US all non-barrier methods of contraception require consultation with ...Read more >

Approximately 140,000 second trimester abortions are performed in the US each year. Second trimester abortion is most commonly performed by a technique known as dilation and evacuation. Clinicians use digoxin, a drug commonly used for cardiac conditions, to facilitate pregnancy termination in the late second trimester. When injected into the fetus or amniotic fluid, digoxin ...Read more >

Background: Globally there is a dearth of access to safe second trimester abortions. Preoperative cervical ripening improves the safety of these procedures. Prior clinical and pharmacokinetic studies suggest misoprostol and Dilapan-S are effective for faster cervical ripening, allowing early second trimester abortions to be performed in a single day. However, it is unknown which agent ...Read more >

Objective: To explore women’s preferences for pain control during first-trimester surgical abortion. Methods: This was a qualitative study that employed pre- and post-operative semi-structured individual interviews to understand women’s decision making process surrounding pain control for first-trimester surgical abortion. Interviews were taped, transcribed, and are being independently coded by two study investigators to establish a ...Read more >

Prostaglandin inhibitors may be a viable alternative to the currently available hormonal contraceptive methods. Hormonal contraception, although highly effective, is not tolerated by some women, and contraindicated in others. Hormonal emergency contraception works primarily by inhibition of ovulation, and therefore fails in women who use the method after release of the oocyte. Studies have shown ...Read more >

Objective: Although immediate post-placental IUD insertion is considered safe and effective, later postpartum insertions have been discouraged. We conducted this study to assess acceptability and feasibility of conducting a clinical trial to investigate insertion of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) 10 minutes to 48 hours after vaginal delivery. Methods: Prospective clinical study of women enrolled ...Read more >