An Overview of Pharmacologic and Non-Pharmacologic Pain Control Options for Intrauterine Device (IUD) Placement

Written by Meera Nagarsheth, MD Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a safe and effective form of contraception and have numerous non-contraceptive benefits. However, pain and discomfort during IUD placement are commonly reported.1 The CDC’s 2024 US Selected Practice Recommendations (SPR) for Contraceptive Use recommends counseling patients on pain management options prior to IUD placement.2 Both actual…

Insights: Tips for Addressing Challenging Questions

Written by Lily Van Tongeren, MD and Maya Bass, MD MA FAAFP During options counseling and abortion care, clinicians and support staff are often asked challenging questions about the abortion process. These inquiries can range from scientific to deeply spiritual in nature. Questions such as “Is there a heartbeat?” and “Does the baby feel pain?”…

Insights: Pain Control During Procedural Abortions

Written by Divya Bhatia, MD Pain perception during procedures for abortion or management of early pregnancy loss is shaped by multiple physical and psychosocial factors and can vary substantially from person to person. Accordingly, it is best managed using a multi-modal approach.1 Pharmacological methods include oral pain medication, paracervical block, and sedation with anesthesia. Premedication…

Insights: How All Clinicians Can Support People Who Need Abortion

Written by Jasmine Chan, M.D. and Navjot Narula, MD As restrictive laws increasingly limit patients’ access to abortion care, clinicians must maximize their support for patients seeking abortions. Even if your organization does not provide abortions, there are still many ways you can support patients seeking abortion care. These recommendations may fall in a legally…

Contraception and Sickle Cell Disease

Written by Aderinsola Odetunde, MD Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States, with the highest prevalence among those of African descent.1,2 Many of those living with SCD are not counseled on reproductive health, especially during the transition period from pediatric to adult care.3 Clinicians should regularly discuss reproductive health care…

Insights: Values Clarification for Abortion

Written by Judy Lipshutz, MSW, RN Values Clarification (VC) is a process of self-reflection that encourages honest and respectful conversations about how our values impact the care we provide. We all have values, opinions, biases, and identities; and we come from different generations, cultures, races, and religions. Developing self-awareness about how our values impact our…

CDC Contraception Guidelines

The Reproductive Health Access Project has finished updating the Medical Eligibility Criteria for Initiating Contraception based on the 2024 CDC Medical Eligibility Criteria (MEC) and Selected Practice Recommendations (SPR) for Contraceptive Use. This is a reference tool for clinicians who want to check a patient’s medical eligibility for initiating various forms of contraception as they…

Insights: The Impacts of Abortion Bans on Maternal Health

Written by Silpa Srinivasulu, MPH After the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health decision overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, nearly half of US states banned or severely restricted access to abortion care. To date, 12 states ban abortion in nearly all circumstances and six restrict abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy or less. While…

Insights: Trying to Conceive After Early Pregnancy Loss

Written by C. Peony Khoo, MD Early pregnancy loss (EPL) – also called miscarriage or spontaneous abortion – is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 13 weeks’ gestation. EPL is common, occurring in up to 15% of clinically recognized pregnancies, and nearly one in four people capable of pregnancy will experience EPL in their…

Insights: Negotiating Abortion Care as Part of Your Primary Care Contract

Written by Leila Jade Levi Leila Jade Levi is a Senior Counsel for Reproductive Rights and Health at the National Women’s Law Center. This article is for educational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship and shall not be construed as legal advice. Even before the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to…