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 >

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 >

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 >

Women now account for 26% of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the US, with 80% of those infections caused by heterosexual transmission. As women with HIV live longer lives and have access to lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, their fertility desires have been found to be similar to those of women without HIV. Women who may have ...Read more >

This pilot project will explore the experiences of workers who directly perform and assist with abortion work at a Midwest Planned Parenthood affiliate, and evaluate a self-care intervention designed for them. In general, the physicians, nurses, counselors and surgical assistants who do abortion work are inspired by feminist ideals and their deep desire to make ...Read more >

In the United Kingdom, guidance from the Department of Health and Royal College of Nursing encourages “sensitive disposal” of fetal tissue after pregnancy loss, stating that individuals should be given verbal and written information on their options and the ability to participate in shared decision-making about management of fetal remains. This guidance was developed in ...Read more >

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the safety of two routes and doses of digoxin before later second-trimester abortion by dilation and evacuation through an assessment of maternal systemic digoxin absorption, cardiac rhythm and coagulation parameters. Study Design: Pregnant women at between 19 and 23 weeks’ gestation received either 1.5 mg digoxin ...Read more >