Abortion Return Rates and Wait Times Before and After Texas' Executive Order Banning Abortion During COVID-19.

Objectives. To assess the associations between the executive order that Texas governor Greg Abbott issued on March 22, 2020, postponing procedures deemed not immediately medically necessary, and patients' access to abortion care in Texas. Methods. We used 17 515 individual-level patient records from 13 Texas abortion facilities for matched periods in 2019 and 2020 to examine differences in return rates for abortion after completion of a state-mandated ultrasound and median wait times between ultrasound and abortion visits for those who returned. Results. Patients were less likely to return for an abortion if they had an ultrasound while the executive order was under effect (82.8%) than in the same period in 2019 (90.4%; adjusted odds ratio = 2.06; 95% confidence interval = 1.12, 3.81). Compared with patients at or before 10.0 weeks' gestation at ultrasound, patients at more than 10 weeks' gestation had higher odds of not returning for an abortion or, if they returned, experienced greater wait times between ultrasound and abortion visits. Conclusions. Texas' executive order prohibiting abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted patients' access to care and disproportionately affected patients who were past 10 weeks' gestation. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(10):1013-1023. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307747).

Abortion Policy: Legal, Clinical, and Medical Education Considerations.

Abortion is a frequent topic of policy debate in America and a central issue in politics since the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Supreme Court decision. A number of states have completely or nearly completely banned abortion and criminalized health care providers. People seeking abortion care are turning to alternatives outside the formal health care system or traveling to states that have preserved access. Approximately half of US Obstetrics/Gynecology residents will train in a state where abortion is illegal, lending to a frightening future where Obstetrics/Gynecologists are not trained to provide this common, sometimes life-saving, health care.

Consensus recommendations for the use of retinoids in ichthyosis and other disorders of cornification in children and adolescents.

Topical and systemic retinoids have long been used in the treatment of ichthyoses and other disorders of cornification. Due to the need for long-term use of retinoids for these disorders, often beginning in childhood, numerous clinical concerns must be considered. Systemic retinoids have known side effects involving bone and eye. Additionally, potential psychiatric and cardiovascular effects need to be considered. Contraceptive concerns, as well as the additive cardiovascular and bone effects of systemic retinoid use with hormonal contraception must also be deliberated for patients of childbearing potential. The Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) Use of Retinoids in Ichthyosis Work Group was formed to address these issues and to establish best practices regarding the use of retinoids in ichthyoses based on available evidence and expert opinion.

Perspectives on prescribing hormonal contraception among rural New Mexican pharmacists.

OBJECTIVES: New Mexico is a large rural state with high rates of unintended pregnancy and limited access to contraception. In 2017, the New Mexico Pharmacist Prescriptive Authority Act was amended to allow pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraception. We explored pharmacist perspectives on prescribing hormonal contraceptives, including perceived barriers and facilitators to implementation in rural New Mexico and opinions on over-the-counter (OTC) access, and prescribing and inserting subdermal contraceptive implants. METHODS: This qualitative study recruited rural pharmacists using contact information from the New Mexico Board of Pharmacy and at a state-level pharmacist conference. We conducted semistructured telephone interviews with pharmacists focusing on benefits and concerns about prescribing hormonal contraception, resources required, perspectives on OTC access, and interest in prescribing and placing contraceptive implants. Deidentified transcribed interviews were analyzed by 2 independent coders for emerging themes. RESULTS: From November 2017 to January 2018, we recruited 25 rural pharmacists and conducted 21 interviews. The majority of participants were male (71%), aged over 60 years (43%), and in practice for over 20 years (52%). Interviewees were mostly positive about prescribing hormonal contraception citing community benefits. The top 3 perceived barriers were training needs, reimbursement, and liability. The top 3 facilitators were the availability of private areas within pharmacies, pharmacists' role as knowledgeable health care team members, and pharmacist accessibility without appointments. Most pharmacists did not support OTC access to hormonal contraception, and over half were interested in certification to prescribe and place subdermal contraceptive implants. CONCLUSION: New Mexico pharmacists identified community benefits of pharmacy access to hormonal contraception and were interested in training. Several barriers must be addressed to realize the potential of this practice expansion.

Immediate postpartum levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion and breast-feeding outcomes: a noninferiority randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Immediate postpartum levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion is increasing in frequency in the United States, but few studies have investigated the effect of early placement on breast-feeding outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of immediate vs delayed postpartum levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion on breast-feeding outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted this noninferiority randomized controlled trial at the University of Utah and the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Centers from February 2014 through March 2016. Eligible women were pregnant and planned to breast-feed, spoke English or Spanish, were aged 18-40 years, and desired a levonorgestrel intrauterine device. Enrolled women were randomized 1:1 to immediate postpartum insertion or delayed insertion at 4-12 weeks' postpartum. Prespecified exclusion criteria included delivery <37.0 weeks' gestational age, chorioamnionitis, postpartum hemorrhage, contraindications to levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion, and medical complications of pregnancy that could affect breast-feeding. We conducted per-protocol analysis as the primary approach, as it is considered the standard for noninferiority studies; we also report the alternative intent-to-treat analysis. We powered the study for the primary outcome, breast-feeding continuation at 8 weeks, to detect a 15% noninferiority margin between groups, requiring 132 participants in each arm. The secondary study outcome, time to lactogenesis, used a validated measure, and was analyzed by survival analysis and log rank test. We followed up participants for ongoing data collection for 6 months. Only the data analysis team was blinded to the intervention. RESULTS: We met the enrollment target with 319 participants, but lost 34 prior to randomization and excluded an additional 26 for medical complications prior to delivery. The final analytic sample included 132 in the immediate group and 127 in the delayed group. Report of any breast-feeding at 8 weeks in the immediate group (79%; 95% confidence interval, 70-86%) was noninferior to that of the delayed group (84%; 95% confidence interval, 76-91%). The 5% difference in breast-feeding continuation at 8 weeks between the groups fell within the noninferiority margin (95% confidence interval, -5.6 to 15%). Time to lactogenesis (mean ± SD) in the immediate group, 65.3 ± 25.7 hours, was noninferior to that of the delayed group, 63.6 ± 21.6 hours. The mean difference between groups was 1.7 hours (95% confidence interval, -4.8 to 8.2 hours), noninferior by log-rank test. A total of 24 intrauterine device expulsions occurred in the immediate group compared to 2 in the delayed group (19% vs 2%, P < .001), consistent with the known higher expulsion rate with immediate vs delayed postpartum intrauterine device insertion. No intrauterine device perforations occurred in either group. CONCLUSION: Our results of noninferior breast-feeding outcomes between women with immediate and delayed postpartum levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion suggest that immediate postpartum intrauterine device insertion is an acceptable option for women planning to breast-feed and use the levonorgestrel intrauterine device. Expulsion rates are higher with immediate postpartum levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion compared to delayed insertion, but this disadvantage may be outweighed by the advantages of immediate initiation of contraception. Providers should offer immediate postpartum intrauterine device insertion to breast-feeding women planning to use the levonorgestrel intrauterine device.

Prenatal Contraceptive Counseling.

Pregnancy care should include open discussions with patients about their ideal family size and pregnancy spacing. With these patient-voiced goals in mind, clinicians should review contraceptive tools to meet these goals, including special considerations after birth. For patients that desire contraception, it is important to prioritize the provision of their chosen method as soon as safely possible and desired after birth.

Insurance Churn and Postpartum Health among Texas Women with Births Covered by Medicaid/CHIP.

INTRODUCTION: Insurance churn (changes in coverage) after childbirth is common in the United States, particularly in states that have not expanded Medicaid coverage. Although insurance churn may have lasting consequences for health care access, most research has focused on the initial weeks after a birth. METHODS: We analyzed data from a cohort study of postpartum Texans with pregnancies covered by public insurance (n = 1,489). Women were recruited shortly after childbirth from eight hospitals in six cities, completing a baseline survey in the hospital and follow-up surveys at 3, 6, and 12 months. We assessed insurance trajectories, health care use, and health indicators over the 12 months after childbirth. We also conducted a content analysis of women's descriptions of postpartum health concerns. RESULTS: A majority of participants (64%) became uninsured within 3 months of the birth and remained uninsured for the duration of the study; 88% were uninsured at some point in the year after the birth. At 3 months postpartum, 17% rated their health as fair or poor, and 13% reported a negative change in their health after the 3-month survey. Women's open-ended responses described financial hardships and other difficulties accessing care for postpartum health issues, which included acute and ongoing conditions, undiagnosed concerns, pregnancy and reproductive health, mental health, and weight/lifestyle concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Insurance churn was common among postpartum women with births covered by Medicaid/CHIP and prevented many women from receiving health care. To improve postpartum health and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, states should work to stabilize insurance coverage for women with low incomes.

Satisfaction, Resignation, and Dissatisfaction with Long-Acting Reversible Contraception among Low-Income Postpartum Texans.

INTRODUCTION: Prior longitudinal studies of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) satisfaction and continuation guaranteed their participants access to LARC removal. Under real-world conditions, LARC users who wish to discontinue may experience barriers to LARC removal. METHODS: A prospective cohort study recruited 1,700 postpartum Texans without private insurance from 8 hospitals in 6 cities. Our analysis included the 418 respondents who initiated LARC in the 24 months after childbirth. A content analysis of open-ended survey responses identified three categories of LARC users: satisfied, resigned, and dissatisfied. Satisfied LARC users were using their method of choice. Resigned users were using LARC as an alternative method when their preferred method was inaccessible. Dissatisfied users were unhappy with LARC. Multinomial logistic regression models identified risk factors for resignation and dissatisfaction. Cox proportional hazards models assessed differences in LARC discontinuation by satisfaction and sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: Participants completed 1,505 surveys while using LARC. LARC users were satisfied in 83.46% of survey responses, resigned in 5.25%, and dissatisfied in 11.30%. Resignation was more likely if respondents were uninsured or wanted sterilization at the time of childbirth. The risk of dissatisfaction increased with time using LARC and was higher among uninsured respondents. U.S.-born Hispanic LARC users were more likely than foreign-born Hispanic LARC users to be dissatisfied and less likely to discontinue when dissatisfied. Dissatisfaction-but not resignation-predicted discontinuation. Cost, lack of insurance, and difficulty obtaining an appointment were frequent barriers to LARC removal. CONCLUSIONS: Most postpartum LARC users were satisfied, but users who wished to discontinue frequently encountered barriers.

Short-acting hormonal contraceptive continuation among low-income postpartum women in Texas.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess continuation of the pill, patch, ring or injectable (i.e., short-acting hormonal contraception); characteristics associated with discontinuation; and subsequent method use among low-income postpartum women in Texas. STUDY DESIGN: Using a 24-month cohort study of 1700 women who delivered in eight Texas hospitals and were uninsured or publicly insured at the time of delivery, we focused on 456 women who used short-acting hormonal contraception within 6 months after delivery. We classified this sample according to characteristics and method preference, and estimated rates of discontinuation and associated predictors using life tables and Cox models. We assessed reasons for discontinuation and subsequent contraceptive use among those who discontinued. RESULTS: Roughly half used the pill and half used the injectable. One hundred seventy-eight (39%) expressed a baseline preference for the method they used, 162 (36%) preferred a long-acting reversible contraception method, and 41 (9%) preferred sterilization. After 1 year, 72% had discontinued [95% confidence interval (CI) 67.1-75.7]. Foreign-born Hispanic women were less likely to discontinue than U.S.-born Hispanics [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR), 0.65; 95% CI 0.50-0.84]. Those who wanted a more effective method (aHR, 1.44; 95% CI 1.12-1.85) and those who lost insurance coverage (aHR, 1.47; 95% CI 1.12-1.92) were more likely to discontinue. The most common reasons for discontinuation were side effects and access/cost. Of those who discontinued, 243 (68%) switched to a less effective or no method. Only 47 (13%) switched to their preferred method. CONCLUSIONS: Short-acting hormonal contraceptive discontinuation is high in this population. Many switch to less effective methods after discontinuation despite preferring methods at least as effective as the pill, patch, ring or injectable. IMPLICATIONS: Expanding contraceptive coverage in the 2 years after delivery should be a state and federal policy priority. In clinics, providers should discuss contraceptive preferences throughout pregnancy and the interpregnancy interval.

Perspectives on pharmacy access to hormonal contraception among rural New Mexico women.

OBJECTIVE: In 2017, New Mexico approved an amendment allowing pharmacists to prescribe and dispense hormonal contraception. We interviewed rural New Mexico women to determine their perceptions of pharmacy access to hormonal contraception. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with women recruited from rural New Mexico communities. The interview guide explained the amendment followed by questions about the advantages and disadvantages of pharmacy access to hormonal contraception within rural communities. RESULTS: Between November 2017 and May 2018, we recruited 32 women to participate. Participants were young (26/32 18-29 years old), gravid (27/31), employed (30/32), white (22/32) and Hispanic (26/31). The majority used Medicaid as their primary insurance (16/28). Most participants were supportive of pharmacy access to hormonal contraception. Participants saw their rural communities as facing health care barriers, some of which could be alleviated by pharmacy access. Perceived benefits of pharmacy access included convenience of pharmacy hours, shorter wait times, and no need for an appointment. Participants expressed concerns about lack of privacy in their pharmacies. Many expressed trust in their pharmacist to review side effects and explain usage of contraception- a role that was considered separate from that of a primary care provider who offers regular medical visits for routine screening and nuanced or complex discussions about contraception. Some participants expressed that pharmacy access could be especially beneficial for teens. CONCLUSIONS: Rural New Mexico women were supportive of pharmacy access to contraception and accept pharmacists as trusted members of the health care team. IMPLICATIONS: Rural New Mexico women find benefit in pharmacy access to hormonal contraception, citing improved access to contraceptives in their communities.

Systematic review of efficacy with extending contraceptive implant duration.

BACKGROUND: Extending contraceptive implant duration of use increases accessibility by maximizing the lifetime of devices. OBJECTIVES: To review the contraceptive efficacy during extended use of progestin implants. SEARCH STRATEGY: PubMed and EMBASE were searched for articles in any language, 1996-2017, utilizing terms for devices and contraceptive efficacy. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs), cohort studies, and case-control studies were included; abstracts, posters, and presentations were excluded. Studies evaluating Norplant and implants currently in pre-marketing trials were excluded. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Titles and abstracts of articles were reviewed; those that met inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent full text review and data abstraction. MAIN RESULTS: The search identified 2951 articles; six met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Five studies evaluated the etonogestrel implant (Implanon), and one the levonorgestrel implant (Jadelle). One RCT randomized to method, not duration; the remaining studies were prospective cohort studies. Three studies analyzed efficacy among women beyond currently approved duration separately. All studies were of poor to fair quality by United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPTF) grading. Limitations include lack of generalizability and control of important confounders. CONCLUSION: These studies provide limited data for extended duration of contraceptive implants.

Nitrous Oxide Compared With Intravenous Sedation for Second-Trimester Abortion: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether inhaled nitrous oxide is noninferior to intravenous (IV) sedation for pain control during outpatient surgical abortion between 12 and 16 weeks of gestation. METHODS: We enrolled women undergoing surgical abortion at 12-16 weeks of gestation into a multisite, double-blind clinical trial. Participants were randomized to sedation with nitrous oxide (70% nitrous/30% oxygen) or IV fentanyl (100 micrograms) and midazolam (2 mg). Paracervical block was administered to both groups. The primary outcome measure was immediate postabortion recall of maximum pain on a 100-mm visual analog scale. RESULTS: Between August 2016 and March 2017, we assessed 170 women for eligibility and enrolled 39, 19 in the nitrous group and 20 in the IV sedation group. Seven participants in the nitrous group (36.8%) required conversion to IV sedation for inadequate pain control. No participants in the IV sedation group required additional medication. The proportion of women requiring additional pain control in the nitrous group exceeded our predefined stopping rule. Intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated that immediate postabortion visual analog scale pain scores were lower by 20.1 mm (95% CI 1.6-38.6) in women randomized to IV sedation than in women randomized to nitrous. CONCLUSION: Intravenous sedation is a better choice than inhaled nitrous oxide for pain control in second-trimester abortion. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02755090.

Family Planning American Style Redux: Unintended Pregnancy Improves, Barriers Remain.

This article discusses barriers to reducing unintended pregnancy. Numerous factors may explain the high rate of unintended pregnancy in the United States, including inadequate sex education, confusing media messages about sex, cultural attitudes about sex and young parenting, conflation of contraception with abortion, inadequate health care access, burdensome contraceptive dispensing practices, and hospital merger limitations on care. Successful and promising approaches to expanding access to reproductive health care and reducing unintended pregnancy are discussed.

A randomized controlled trial of nitrous oxide for intrauterine device insertion in nulliparous women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of inhaled nitrous oxide for pain management among nulliparous women undergoing intrauterine device (IUD) insertion. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted among nulliparous women aged 13-45years who underwent IUD insertion at a US center between October 1, 2013, and August 31, 2014. Using a computer-generated randomization sequence, participants were randomly assigned to inhale either oxygen (O2) or a mixture of 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen (N2O/O2) through a nasal mask for 2minutes before insertion. Only the person administering the inhalation agent was aware of group assignment. The primary outcome was maximum pain assessed 2minutes after insertion via a 100-mm visual analog scale. Analyses were by intention to treat. RESULTS: Forty women were assigned to each group. Mean maximum pain score at the time of insertion was 54.3±24.8mm for the N2O/O2 group and 55.3±20.9mm for the O2 group (P=0.86). Adverse effects were reported for 6 (15%) women in the N2O/O2 group and 7 (18%) in the O2 group (P=0.32). CONCLUSION: N2O/O2 did not reduce the pain of IUD insertion among nulliparous women. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02391714.

Cervical cancer prevention: immunization and screening 2015.

Both primary and secondary prevention of cervical cancer are now available. Immunizations against human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 have the potential to prevent 70% of cancers of the cervix plus a large percentage of other lower anogenital tract cancers. Screening guidelines were recently changed to recommend cotesting with cytology plus an HPV test. The addition of HPV testing increases the sensitivity and negative predictive value of screening over the Papanicolaou (Pap) test alone.

Postoperative bleeding in a patient with normal screening coagulation tests.

A 54-year-old man was brought to the emergency room after a head-on collision. He had multiple fractures in his lower extremities and required immediate surgery. After surgery, the patient had a persistent drop in hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelets despite red blood cell transfusions. Laboratory studies included normal prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, normal plasminogen functional activity, negative antiplatelet antibodies, normal platelet functional analysis and negative disseminated intravascular coagulation screen. Factor XIII antigen levels were 25% of predicted, and the diagnosis of factor XIII deficiency was made. The patient was treated with cryoprecipitate, and the bleeding stopped. Patients with factor XIII deficiency have either a rare congenital or acquired coagulation disorder. Both presentations have normal standard laboratory clotting tests, and the diagnosis requires an assay measuring factor XIII activity or antigen levels. The usual treatment includes cryoprecipitate, fresh-frozen plasma or recombinant factor XIII. This deficiency should be considered in patients with unexplained spontaneous, traumatic or postoperative bleeding.