Characteristics Associated With Physician Bias in Contraceptive Recommendations.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine associations between obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) contraceptive recommendations and sociodemographic characteristics of patients and recommending physicians. METHODS: OBGYNs affiliated with residency programs across the United States were recruited via email to participate in an online exploratory survey depicting scenarios of reproductive-age women of differing race and socioeconomic status, all other factors identical, and were asked to provide contraceptive recommendations. The χ2 test, Fisher's exact tests, and logistic regression were used to analyze recommendation differences based on physician and patient characteristics. RESULTS: Of 172 physician respondents, large proportions self-identified as white (74%) and attending physicians (56%) from the Mid-Atlantic (42%). In multivariate logistic regression, self-administered methods (odds ratio [OR], 0.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-0.8) and condoms (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9) were recommended significantly less to Black high SES patients compared with white high SES patients. Non-white physicians recommended tubal ligation (OR, 0.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-0.9) significantly less than white physicians, and recommended long-acting reversible contraception (OR, 3.3, CI 2.2-5.2) and condoms (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9) significantly more. Trainee physicians recommended self-administered methods (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2-0.4), condoms (OR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.2-0.3), and tubal ligation (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.3-0.6) significantly less than attending physicians. CONCLUSIONS: OBGYN contraceptive recommendations differed based on patients' perceived race and SES. Recommendations also differed based on race, training level, and geographic location of the recommending physician. Results suggest that physician bias contributes to contraceptive recommendations. OBGYNs should receive education about contraceptive coercion and patient-centered decision-making so that they provide high-quality counseling to all patients.

Cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy: nuances in diagnosis and treatment.

A cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy (CSEP) occurs when the embryo implants on the scar of a previous cesarean delivery. The number of births delivered by cesarean section has climbed by 50% over the last decade, from a nadir of 20.7% in 1996 to 32.1% in 2021. As a result, the incidence of CSEP has also increased. Because CSEP may cause serious morbidity such as life-threatening hemorrhage, uterine rupture, placental accreta spectrum, hysterectomy, and even mortality, accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of this condition are essential. This review focuses on the etiology, incidence, clinical diagnosis, and management of CSEPs.

Active COVID-19 infection as a barrier to postpartum tubal ligation.

OBJECTIVES: To identify patients unable to obtain postpartum bilateral tubal ligations (ppBTLs) due to policy prohibiting "elective" procedures for COVID-positive patients at a single academic medical center in New Jersey. RESULTS: Upon retrospective chart review of patients requesting ppBTLS, of 110 ppBTL requests between identified via retrospective chart review between February 1, 2020, and February 28, 2022, 24 (22%) were canceled due to COVID infection. Of these patients, 10 (42%) were uninsured, 13 (54%) had Medicaid, and 22 (92%) were Hispanic/Latinx. Postpartum, five (21%) obtained interval tubal ligation, seven (37%) never received contraception, and one had a future pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: This policy affected uninsured patients by preventing access to permanent contraception.