Laws targeting drug use in pregnancy have become more punitive

Drug-related pregnancy laws almost entirely overlap with alcohol-related pregnancy laws

Abortion safety does not differ depending on facility type

New research finds that ASC laws are unnecessary to maintain the safety of abortion

State policies targeting alcohol use in pregnancy result in worse birth outcomes

These policies may cause women to avoid prenatal care instead of seek support

Study finds abortion-related emergency department visits are extremely rare

Among U.S. women of reproductive age who visited EDs from 2009-2013, only 0.01% (1 in every 10,000) were abortion-related

California university students face barriers to accessing medication abortion off campus; it would be feasible for student health centers to provide care

The California State Legislature is considering SB 320, which would mandate on-campus access to medication abortion at public universities

The Turnaway Study finds that abortion does not increase women’s risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts

Having a history of mental health conditions and partner violence is associated with suicidal ideation; having an abortion is not

Novel study identifies 27 large U.S. cities as “abortion deserts”

Forty percent of the abortion facilities in the Northeast and West only provide medication abortion

Allowing pharmacists to dispense medication abortion on prescription could improve access to early abortion care

FDA restrictions on dispensing mifepristone in the U.S. are not evidence-based

Discrimination, lack of LGBTQ competency by providers impedes reproductive healthcare for LGBTQ individuals

Reproductive healthcare providers need LGBTQ-specific cultural competency training to provide respectful and responsive care to patients

Few women go to crisis pregnancy centers for pregnancy counseling

With rare exceptions, CPCs do not appear to influence pregnant women’s decision-making

The expertise of clinicians, guidelines of professional organizations, and scientific evidence should guide the development of facility standards

Standards should be developed across outpatient procedures of similar complexity and risk, and should not single out abortion

Women denied abortion are significantly less likely to support the legal right to abortion

A person’s own reproductive experiences may impact support for abortion rights and views on morality

Having an abortion does not lead to increased alcohol, tobacco or drug use

New research from the Turnaway Study indicates state-mandated information on substance abuse risk post-abortion is not evidence-based

Stark differences in how states regulate abortion vs other medical procedures

TRAP laws impose unique burdens that threaten public health and impugn the laws’ legitimacy

Contraceptive counseling marginalizes male body-based methods

Overlooking condoms, withdrawal, and vasectomy normalizes reproductive burdens as solely women’s

Women can safely and effectively self-induce abortion using misoprostol after receiving information from a healthcare provider

Researchers documented outcomes of a harm-reduction model at non-governmental clinics in Peru

Patients want to know about religious hospital policies that restrict reproductive health care options

Many women aren’t aware religious hospitals use religion to restrict care

History of abortion on American TV: different genres, new narratives

A historical overview of the narrative function of abortion in five different TV genres

Laws claiming to improve the health and well-being of minors considering abortion could put them at risk

Parental notification laws do not benefit young women seeking abortion

Some abortion patients are interested in receiving a printout of their ultrasound image and find it useful

There was no evidence that accepting the printout impacted women’s pregnancy decision-making

Abortion Onscreen in 2017

The latest report from ANSIRH's Abortion Onscreen project looks back at portrayals of abortion on American television in 2017.

Counseling on methods’ side effects isn’t always based in evidence

“Positive” side effects presented as likely and “unpleasant” side effects as unlikely

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Culture
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International
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Policy
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Turnaway
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Welcome to ANSIRH

Welcome to ANSIRH

Recent publications

Thomas S, Treffers R, Berglas NF, Drabble L, Roberts SCM Drug Use During Pregnancy Policies in the United States From 1970 to 2016. August 2018. Contemporary Drug Problems, [Epub ahead of print].
Joffe C The Struggle to Save Abortion Care. August 2018. Contexts, doi.org/10.1177/1536504218792522.
Baer RJ, Lessard LN, Jankowska M, Anderson JG, Block J, Chambers CD, Fuchs J, Kuppermann M, McLemore MR, Newel G, Oltman SP, Rogers EE, Ryckman KK, Steurer MA, Yang J-A, Franck LS, Rand L, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL Comparison of risk and protective factors for preterm birth in rural, suburban, and urban Fresno County, California. August 2018. Journal of Epidemiological Research, 4(2):50-58.
Raifman S, Orlando M, Rafie S, Grossman D Medication abortion: Potential for improved patient access through pharmacies. July 2018. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 58(4):377–381.
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Banner photos: Clinician and patient photo ©  iStock/monkeybusinessimages; Mentor award group image © Michael Rubottom Photography; Ultrasound image © zilli/iStockphoto.com; Preventing pregnancy image © Image Point Fr/Shutterstock.com.

Research category photos: Abortion section photo © Can Stock Photo Inc. / Mark Adams, Rocketclips. Contraception photo © Cindy Chew for ANSIRH. Culture image part of an infographic designed for ANSIRH by Jessica Harrington, with art direction by Kate Giambrone and Julianna Johnson. International photo courtesy Stew and Vee Carrington via Creative Commons license. Policy photo courtesy of Heather Ault (modified and cropped). Turnaway photo © Jana Carrey for ANSIRH.

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ANSIRH is a program within the UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health and is a part of UCSF's Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences.

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