Pain, Side Effects, and Abortion Experience Among People Seeking Abortion Care in the Second Trimester.

Background: There is limited documentation about pain and side effects associated with dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion, yet, pain and side effects are important factors that can affect a client's abortion experience. In 2016, Hope Clinic for Women, an independent abortion clinic in Illinois, altered its cervical preparation protocols before D&E to reduce the total time of the abortion process and improve the client experience. This analysis addresses the gap in data on client experience of abortion in the later second trimester by evaluating pain, side effects, and acceptability by gestational age.

The Impact of a Parental Notification Requirement on Illinois Minors' Access to and Decision-Making Around Abortion.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of a parental notification (PN) requirement on the frequency, timing, and out-of-state travel of minors seeking abortion, as well as changes in who minors involve in their decision, support received, and decision certainty.

Methods: We analyzed administrative and medical records of 1,577 women obtaining an abortion before and after implementation of a PN requirement at one Illinois facility. Using multivariate regression within a difference-in-differences framework, we quantified changes in the number and timing of women seeking care, frequency of parental awareness and support, travel from out-of-state, decision certainty, and anticipated coping among minors 17 years and below compared with young adults (YAs) aged 18-20 years.

What do Women Want? Experiences of Low-Income Women with Postpartum Contraception and Contraceptive Counseling.

Background: Contraceptive counseling can increase postpartum contraception use, yet the optimal method and timing for counseling are unknown. The objective was to investigate preferences of underserved pregnant and postpartum women regarding contraception use and counseling.

Method: Surveys regarding contraception experiences and perceptions of contraceptive counseling were conducted with 57 women age 18 and older who were postpartum or antepartum with a previous delivery within 5 years and receiving Medicaid-funded care at an academic medical center.