Monthly Women's Health Research Review

Study Assesses Patient, Provider Experiences With Contraceptive Counseling at Medication Abortion

October 28, 2015

In this study, researchers examine the experiences of health care providers and patients with contraceptive counseling at the time of a medication abortion. They find that while abortion is a convenient time to address contraception, providers must have a certain degree of skill and expertise to do so effectively. The researchers recommend that provider training on how to offer contraception at the time of abortion "explicitly address potential conflicts between the priorities of health professionals and women seeking abortion."

Fetal Tissue Research Is 'Professionally Responsible Success Story,' Commentary States

October 28, 2015

In this commentary, the authors trace the history of fetal tissue research and outline its societal benefits. Noting that the practice is supported from a legal, medical and ethical standpoint, they conclude that such research "should continue unhindered, to fulfill professional responsibility to current and future patients."

Commentary Outlines Plan for Increasing Access to Medication Abortion in the U.S.

October 28, 2015

In this commentary, authors discuss the availability of medication abortion in the U.S., noting access and awareness barriers that are not present elsewhere. The authors outline an action plan by which advocates can increase medication abortion awareness, availability and accessibility in the U.S.

Study Examines Trends in LARC Use Among U.S. Women, 2009-2012

October 28, 2015

In this study, the authors examined the use of long-acting reversible contraception among U.S. women between 2009 and 2012. They found that LARC use rose from 8.5% to 11.6% in that time period, mostly driven by an increase in the use of intrauterine devices.

Study Identifies Primary Factors Influencing Women's Satisfaction With Surgical Abortion Experience

October 28, 2015

In this study, researchers investigate what factors most influenced women's satisfaction with a first-trimester surgical abortion. They find the majority of participating women were satisfied with their abortion experience, and that the top three factors influencing a woman's satisfaction with her experience include the ability to get a prompt appointment, the courtesy of the clinic staff and receiving as much information as desired. The researchers say the findings should motivate clinic staff to "treat women undergoing abortion with dignity and respect."

Commentary: Medication Abortion Laws Undermine Providers' Professional Judgment

September 30, 2015

In this commentary, the authors write that state laws requiring physicians to adhere to FDA protocol when administering medication abortion undermine patient safety by mandating outdated practices. The authors conclude that legislative challenges to provider autonomy threaten physicians of all specialty practices, and they urge abortion-rights advocates to reframe the abortion debate as a matter of legislators putting limits on provider discretion.

At-Home Medication Abortion as Effective as In-Clinic Administration, Study Finds

September 30, 2015

For this study, researchers compared the outcomes of women who ingested both drugs involved in a medication abortion -- mifepristone and misoprostol -- at home with those of women who ingested the drugs at a clinic. The researchers found both methods to be equally effective and safe, and they suggested that physicians offer home use of mifepristone "as a part of routine medica[tion] abortion services."

LARC Users Have Higher Continuation Rates Than Users of Short-Acting Reversible Contraceptives, Study Finds

September 30, 2015

In this study, researchers compared three-year continuation rates of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods with those of short-acting methods. They found three-year continuation rates were 67.2% among LARC users compared with 31% among non-LARC users. The researchers said their findings called for a "paradigm shift," stating, "LARC methods should be considered first-line contraceptives for women of all ages."

Study Assesses Disparities in Race, Site of Care for Rates of Severe Maternal Morbidity

September 30, 2015

In this study, authors investigated racial disparity in severe maternal morbidity as it relates to the place where women received care. Noting that black women had higher rates of severe maternal morbidity than white women, the researchers found that severe maternal morbidity rates were higher among women who delivered at hospitals with a high or medium number of black patients.

Study Examines Health Care Providers' Implicit, Explicit Attitudes Toward Gay, Lesbian Patients

September 30, 2015

For this study, researchers assessed health care providers' implicit and explicit attitudes toward lesbian and gay patients. They found that heterosexual providers' implicit attitudes always favored heterosexual patients over gay and lesbian patients, although explicit attitudes were weaker than implicit attitudes across all provider groups. The researchers called for further research into how these implicit biases can affect patient care and urged providers to implement strategies to mitigate such biases.

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