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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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A contraception integration model at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) has helped to ensure comprehensive healthcare for reproductive-age individuals in some rural areas, new research shows. Investigators studied how FQHCs integrated services — not just offering contraceptives, but also integrating contraception care with primary care.
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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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Adherence to the dapivirine vaginal ring, a topical HIV-1 agent to prevent HIV infection, improved over time, according to the results of a recent study. The vaginal ring is an investigational pre-exposure prophylactic agent that is inserted in the vagina. The silicone matrix ring is loaded with a microbicidal agent.
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New research on the proportion of adolescents and young adults who are adherent to pre-exposure prophylaxis revealed that young cisgender women have a lower adherence rate than young men who have sex with men and serodiscordant heterosexual couples.
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Rural areas in the United States have limited access to screening and testing of sexually transmitted infections. Tailored interventions for these populations are important.
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Individuals with substance use disorder and higher rates of unintended pregnancies could benefit from a family planning intervention targeted for that population. The peer-led family planning navigation intervention employed women who were successful in connecting with study participants.
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A new program using smart speakers could function as a birth control and other medication reminder, improving adherence, according to the authors of a recent study.
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Researchers are studying a novel contraceptive delivery system, which uses a vaginal film to produce antibodies to sperm. The same film also could be developed to protect against HIV infection and herpes.
