October 2019: Power Updates Edition

Blog

October 2019: Power Updates Edition

October 31, 2019

There are plenty of articles, publications, and stories published every month. In an effort to help you distinguish fact from fiction, save time in your already busy day, and share news you may not have otherwise seen, here are six stories from the last month we thought you might find interesting:

Birth Control

ACOG Updates Guidance on Over-the-Counter Access to Hormonal Contraception

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has broadened its recommendations on over-the-counter access to hormonal contraception. The new recommendation states that vaginal ring, patch, and Depo-Provera shot are safe and should be available over the counter with no age restrictions.

Contraception Access Increases Women’s Educational Attainment and Earnings

The Institute for Women’s Policy Research has released a new report which shows that contraceptive access increases women’s educational attainment, labor force participation, and earnings. In addition to other findings the report says, “Women with access to the pill saw their wages grow more rapidly in their 30s and 40s than women without access, resulting in substantially higher earnings. Having access to contraception by age 20 also reduced the probability that a woman lived in poverty later in life.”

Abortion

Effectiveness, Safety, And Acceptability of Self‐Assessment of the Outcome of First‐Trimester Medical Abortion: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This study compared two methods of assessment following medical abortion: self-assessment at home versus routine clinic follow up assessment. It found that the effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of at home assessments are not inferior to routine clinic follow up.

Pregnancy and Birth

Intimate Relationship Dynamics and Changing Desire for Pregnancy Among Young Women

Over the course of four years, this study conducted weekly assessments of nearly 900 women’s intimate relationships and pregnancy desire. It found that their desire changed depending on the context of their intimate relationships and that generally, desire increased with the time and seriousness of relationships.

"If You Don't Ask, I'm Not Going to Tell You:" Using Community-Based Participatory Research to Inform Pregnancy Intention Screening Processes for Black and Latina Women in Primary Care

The American Medical Association supports the use of pregnancy intention and contraception screening as part of routine well-care. But existing pregnancy intention screening tools may not address complexities for women of color or those of lower socioeconomic status. Confirming this, study authors recommend future work examining the experience and effectiveness of community-based participatory research for these populations and in primary care settings.

Declining Realisation of Reproductive Intentions with Age

This study asked, “What is the likelihood of having a child within 4 years for men and women with strong short-term reproductive intentions, and how is it affected by age?” It found that nearly two-thirds of men and women realized their fertility plans within four years. However, while men’s probability of realizing their plans did not decrease with age, women experienced a steep age-related decline around age 35.