Data Equity for Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander People in Reproductive Health Research.

Though racial and ethnic disparities in sexual and reproductive health outcomes are receiving greater interest and research funding, the experiences of Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) people are often combined with those of other racial and ethnic minority groups or excluded from data collection altogether. Such treatment is often rationalized because Asian American and NHPI groups comprise a smaller demographic proportion than other racial or ethnic groups, and the model minority stereotype assumes that these groups have minimal sexual and reproductive health needs. However, Asian American and NHPI people represent the fastest-growing racial-ethnic groups in the United States, and they face disparities in sexual and reproductive health access, quality of care, and outcomes compared with those of other races and ethnicities.

The use of a low-literacy version of the Medicaid sterilization consent form to assess sterilization-related knowledge in Spanish-speaking women: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To learn whether a version of the Medicaid Sterilization Consent Form (SCF) adapted for populations of low-literacy can help Spanish-speaking women better understand the process and consequences of tubal sterilization.

Study Design: We randomly assigned Spanish-speaking women, ages 21-45 years, to review either a "standard" or "low-literacy" version of the Medicaid SCF. We assessed sterilization-related knowledge using items from the Postpartum Tubal Sterilization Knowledge questionnaire, using as the primary outcome correct identification of least four or more knowledge items and as secondary outcome participants' preferred version of the SCF.

The provision of comprehensive reproductive health services in Los Angeles: a physician's perspective.

There are very few legal restrictions to obtaining an abortion in the state of California. However, women who reside in the highly populated and diverse county of Los Angeles may face barriers to obtaining comprehensive reproductive health services. In particular, women may face linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers, among others, that contribute to disparities in reproductive health and to access to safe abortion.

Temporal changes in cervical mucus after insertion of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system.

Background: The major contraceptive action of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is cervical mucus (CM) thickening, which prevents sperm penetration. No study to date has examined the temporal relationship between the insertion of the LNG-IUS and changes in CM quality and sperm penetration.

Study Design: Participants were enrolled in a clinically descriptive study to compare the quality of CM and three parameters of sperm penetration prior to insertion of the LNG-IUS and on Days 1, 3 and 5 after insertion.

Feasibility of LNG-IUS in a baboon model.

Background: The baboon (Papio hamadryas anubis) is an attractive model for intrauterine contraception research due to anatomic similarity to the human. Although non-human primates have previously been used for intrauterine contraception research, it was unknown whether modern intrauterine devices (IUDs) can be placed in an anatomically similar position in the baboon. This study sought to determine whether human-use IUDs could be seated correctly in the uterus of the baboon.

Effects of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system on cervical mucus quality and sperm penetrability.

Background: In levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) users, the prevention of sperm penetration through cervical mucus has not been demonstrated.

Study Design: Subjects were enrolled in an investigator-blinded study to compare quality and sperm penetrability of mid-cycle cervical mucus between LNG-IUS users and hormone-free controls. Cervical mucus was microscopically examined using World Health Organization (WHO) cervical mucus analysis (CMA).