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Menstrual cycles can vary and be inconsistent among female athletes. Physicians and other providers could miss important health problems if they downplay athletes’ cycle changes or differences. A new study shows that a tool, called the Health and Reproductive Survey, can assess menstrual function in physically active females.
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Women with opioid use disorder are more likely to become pregnant unintentionally. They often encounter contraception barriers, including inadequate counseling.
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Reproductive health providers use contraceptive counseling techniques largely based on an able-bodied norm, ignoring the needs of people with disabilities. New research suggests that better communication tactics are needed to reduce disparities and remove barriers for people who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as for people with other disabilities.
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Several new studies highlight problems people with disabilities experience when trying to access contraceptive care. These include barriers related to educational material that is not designed with disabilities in mind as well as attitudes and biases among reproductive health providers and clinicians.
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New research shows more supportive counseling in reproductive health is needed for adolescents, especially after sexual initiation, and in support of adherence or tolerance of side effects. Access to different types of birth control has increased in the past decade, but not as much progress has been made in supporting decision-making or counseling with respect to neurodevelopmental functioning.
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Social and behavioral change are important factors to consider and incorporate into family planning, even before a woman enters a provider’s office. Some social and behavioral change tactics include shared decision-making, ideational models, multifaceted community campaigns, and value clarification exercises.
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A new study revealed opportunities for improvement in OB/GYN knowledge of sexual health education. OB/GYN residents, while knowledgeable on subjects like decreased sexual desire, sexual pain, contraception, and more, could benefit from learning more about transgender care, caring for sex trafficking survivors, and cultural competency in care.
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The easing of the risk evaluation and mitigation strategy restriction on mifepristone will make it easier for women to obtain the drug and could allow for pharmacy dispensing of the drug. Pharmacists should have a seat at the table in the conversation on dispensing prescription medication.
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The risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) restriction on mifepristone has been burdensome for providers and patients, researchers noted. The REMS restriction exacerbates the stigma around abortion care, which already disproportionately affects communities of color and young people.
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Black and white young women share similar desires to avoid pregnancy and similar pregnancy plans, but Black women were much less likely to be pronatal, advocating for a higher birth rate, than were white women, new research revealed. The unintended pregnancy rate is 2.5 times higher for Black women than for white women, which raises questions about why this difference occurs.
