The Green Room: A Podcast from Obstetrics & Gynecology July 2024: Gynecology
Jun 24, 2024
Rebecca G. Simmons, an Assistant Professor at the University of Utah, discusses her research on contraceptive access and its impact on women's health. She shares insights from the Her Salt Lake study, which examines the demand for no-cost contraception. The conversation highlights the complexities of contraceptive decision-making and the importance of patient-centered care. Simmons also addresses challenges in retaining participants in studies on contraceptive behaviors and the significant patterns in method switching and discontinuation.
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Implant Removal Request In Malawi
- Rebecca Simmons recounts being asked in Malawi to help find a provider to remove an implant a year after insertion.
- That experience shaped her view that contraceptive use patterns and access problems are often misunderstood.
HER Salt Lake: A Unique Cohort
- The HER Salt Lake cohort provided no-cost contraception and repeated follow-up for three years to study real-world method use.
- High retention (≈88% at 36 months) made it uniquely powerful to observe longitudinal switching and discontinuation.
Switching And Discontinuation Are Common
- About half of participants changed methods at least once over three years, and a quarter both switched and discontinued.
- The average number of change behaviors among those who changed was about two, showing switching is common even with high-quality access.