Objectives: We compared two doses and intervals of buccal misoprostol for cervical preparation before surgical abortion at 13 to 16 weeks’ gestation. Methods: This blinded randomized trial compared 400 mcg misoprostol administered 3 hours and 600 mcg administered 1.5 hours before surgical abortion. We analyzed results for the primary outcome (procedure time) using a non-inferiority ...Read more >

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the distance that low-income women travel to obtain an abortion in California, and how the distance they travel influences their post-abortion care – both follow-up and emergency department visits. Methods: We utilized a dataset from California’s state Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, containing claims from every fee-for-service abortion covered in 2011 ...Read more >

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of women, presenting for an abortion, who could accurately determine whether their pregnancy was =13 weeks gestation using a gestational wheel. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with women attending four facilities in Ghana. Interviewers administered a questionnaire and then women were seen by ...Read more >

Objective: To determine the feasibility and effect size of an emergency department (ED)- based intervention using text messaging (TM) to improve contraception initiation among underserved adolescent females at high risk of pregnancy. Methods: This was a prospective pilot randomized controlled study. Eligible females were 14–19 years old, sexually active, presenting for reproductive health complaints and ...Read more >

Background: Some women must travel substantial distances in order to access abortion services, and this can present a barrier to care. This study assesses how far abortion patients traveled to a provider in 2008 and which groups were more likely to travel farther. Methods: We used data from a national sample of 8,338 abortion patients ...Read more >

Adolescent childbearing is a public health concern with significant consequences for teen parents and their children. As prior teen pregnancy prevention efforts have primarily focused on teen mothers with limited attention to teen fathers, gaps remain in understanding male pregnancy intentions, views of abortion, and influences on contraceptive use. Rigid norms about masculinity have been ...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 >