Written by Kohar Der Simonian The COVID-19 pandemic paved the way for major changes in abortion provision. One important change included modifications to clinic workflows emphasizing that routine use of ultrasound is no longer a requirement for the safe and effective provision of first-trimester abortion care.¹ Abortion without the routine use of ultrasound expands the…
06/02/2023: The resources in this article have been updated. Written by Sadia In the United States, depending on certification, education, and training, midwives can be either licensed midwives (LMs), certified professional midwives (CPMs), or certified nurse midwives (CNMs). Midwives are essential public health agents in maternal health, newborn care, and community healing. Midwives are often…
Written by Rory Tito, MPH Integrating a new service into your practice is no small undertaking, and medication abortion is no exception. You will need a multi-disciplinary team of people dedicated to the implementation of this service. Think of the various roles involved directly in the provision of care, as well as the roles on…
Written by Michael A. Belmonte Intimate partner violence (IPV), a cycle of controlling behaviors committed by an intimate or dating partner, affects more than 1 in 3 women* in the US.¹ These behaviors range from screaming, threatening, insulting, physical and sexual abuse, as well as “progressive isolation, stalking, deprivation, intimidation, and reproductive coercion.”¹ Patients experiencing…
Written by Angeline Ti Since mifepristone became available in the US, the regimen for a medication abortion has generally involved a dose of mifepristone followed by one or more doses of misoprostol. Following the decision from the Supreme Court in Dobbs vs Jackson Women’s Health Organization in the summer of 2022, the availability of mifepristone…
Written by Supraja Rachuri Early pregnancy loss (EPL) occurs in 10% of clinically recognized pregnancies, making it an issue commonly encountered in reproductive health care. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) defines EPL as a nonviable, intrauterine pregnancy with either an empty gestational sac or a gestational sac containing an embryo or fetus…
Written by Sadia In a beyond-Roe world, all eyes are on uteri. Pregnancy outcomes, care, and management have been regulated more than any other medical arena and subjected to public scrutiny. Systemically marginalized communities, including people of color, immigrants, and people with disabilities, have been and continue to be disproportionately surveilled and criminalized for their…
Written by Jessica Beaman, MD MPH The National Abortion Federation (NAF) recently updated its guidelines, removing Rh testing and Rhogam treatment for people seeking medication and surgical abortion care with gestation under 12 weeks.¹ This update aligns with the current World Health Organization guidelines and has the potential to reduce barriers to care.² Previous NAF…
Written by Stephanie Mischell The current legal landscape of abortion care is varied and hostile. As more states ban or restrict abortion access, patients are facing more stigma and misinformation when navigating abortion care than ever. As clinicians, it is our duty to advocate for patients by providing nonjudgmental and compassionate options counseling, and accurate…
Self-managed/self-sourced medication abortion (SMA) with mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprostol alone is safe and effective. It can be empowering and life-saving.1,2 As abortion restrictions and bans spread across the US, primary care clinicians and other health professionals will encounter more patients who are interested in using or have used these medications on their own. Most…
