News
Perceived Contraceptive Counseling Quality Among Veterans
Drs. Lisa Callegari and Sonya Borrero led a cross sectional study to understand the perceived quality of contraceptive counseling in the VA primary care and assess factors associated with perceived high- and low-quality contraceptive counseling. Based on their findings, more opportunities exist to improve the quality of contraceptive counseling, including more consistent efforts to seek patients' perspectives with respect to contraceptive decisions.
Pharmacists and Pharmacies Playing a Role in Reproductive Health Care
Drs. Lucas Berenbrok and Marian Jarlenski discuss the need for reduced barriers to contraception and how over the counter and how pharmacist provision of contraception can help increase reproductive health care access across the country.
The Cost of Banning Abortion in Pennsylvania
This recent paper shows that banning abortion would severely harm women and birthing people in Pennsylvania, especially those who are BIPOC and have low incomes. The paper shows that the inability to secure an abortion can:
- Harm physical and mental health
- Make it harder to secure an education
- Reduce prospects for employment and good wages
- Likely lead to hardship and poverty
Abortion Care for Veterans
In their recent JAMA article, Lisa Callegari and Sonya Borrero discuss how Veteran Affair’s move to provide abortion in cases of rape, incest, and life/health endangerment, recognizing abortion as an essential health service for Veterans.
The Medical Community’s Complicity in Marginalizing Abortion Care
Drs. Sonya Borrero, Mehret Birru Talabi, and Christine Dehlendorf discuss the abortion service landscape in their recent JAMA article, confronting how the recent Dobbs decision has caused the medical community to reckon with the systematic exclusion, marginalization, and stigma of abortion care.
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Family-building and parenting considerations for people with cystic fibrosis
Dr. Traci Kazmerski and her team looked at the family-building and parenting considerations for people with cystic fibrosis (CF), including:
Reproductive goals Family-building concerns faced by people with CF including fertility, pregnancy, and alternative paths to parenthood The impact of parenthood on mental and physical health Important future researchThe Society for Family Planning's #WeCount Report
A national monitoring effort by the Society for Family Planning called #WeCount has documented a major drop in abortions in the U.S., indicating that in the two months after the Supreme Court decision, state bans pushed abortion care out of reach for more than 10,000 people.
Tamar Krishnamurti receives the First in FemTech Award!
Tamar Krishnamurti, PhD received the First in FemTech Award from FemTech Focus! The FemTech movement is built and inspired by leaders like Dr. Krishnamurti and she is being recognized for her showed contributions to women’s health through her excellence in innovation, leadership qualities, milestones accomplished, collaborative spirit, and her dedication to accessibility, affordability, and diversity.
Interpersonal Trauma and Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease Events Among Women
Trauma has been linked to risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and interpersonal violence is a trauma that is prevalent in women. Dr. Thurston and her team followed a group of midlife women for two decades to examine whether interpersonal violence (childhood abuse, adulthood abuse, or intimate partner violence [IPV]) was related to increased risk of subsequent clinical CVD events. Findings show that childhood abuse, particularly sexual abuse, was associated with increased risk of CVD.
Congratulations Dr. Elizabeth Miller for being A 2022 Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania!
Dr. Liz Miller has been recognized for her research and her achievements by the Pennsylvania Governor's office, receiving the award for the 2022 Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania.
Advancing Sexual Harassment Prevention and Elimination in the Sciences
Scientific organizations, agencies, and institutions are essential for setting norms and policies toward a zero-tolerance culture of sexual harassment by advancing prevention and empowering people at risk for harassment, discrimination, and violence. Dr. Thurston and her team analyzed an activity held at an international scientific congress that advanced sexual harassment prevention and elimination and empower binary and nonbinary persons at risk for harassment, discrimination, and violence.
Intimate Partner Violence, Women, and Traumatic Brain Injury in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest intimate partner violence (IPV) morbidity globally. This region of the world offers opportunity for traumatic brain injury (TBI) researchers to explore deeper associations between TBI and IPV to better understand the role of gender in TBI research. However, this review by Dr.
Pre-Pregnancy Weight Change Associated with High Gestational Weight Gain
Weight gain before pregnancy is associated with higher gestational weight gain during pregnancy. Assessment of pre-pregnancy weight changes by Dr. Janet Catov and her team may identify those at risk for high gestational weight gain. Results align with the accumulating evidence that pre-pregnancy health contributes to optimal pregnancy outcomes and that it can potentially avert the long-term maternal and child health consequences of high gestational weight gain.
Vasectomy Knowledge and Interest Among U.S. Men Who Do Not Intend to Have (More) Children
In Dr. Sonya Borrero's recent study, men who showed less accurate knowledge and who were interested in vasectomy point to the need for increased awareness and education so men have the information they need to meet their reproductive goals and contribute greater involvement in family planning.