New research reveals that 44% of people at risk of pregnancy aren't using their preferred contraceptive method. A mother and educator explains why the gap between policy progress and real access matte...

Parental involvement laws and the stigma of teen pregnancy create significant barriers for teenagers seeking abortions. These factors are pushing teens to obtain abortion pills online.

Policy Points The continuous coverage provision of the March 2020 Families First Coronavirus Response Act resulted in extended postpartum Medicaid for individuals with pregnancy Medicaid coverage...

For telehealth medication abortion to fully actualize its potential and meet the needs of minors seeking care, patients must be able to access this model without age restrictions.

The degree is offered 100% online in an online mixed format, which includes both synchronous and asynchronous courses. The Rutgers School of Public Health's Master of Public Health (MPH) in Sexual and...

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The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommended that gender-affirming surgeries be delayed until a patient is at least 19 years old

A growing body of research describes coercive experiences in contraceptive care in the clinic setting, a phenomenon that disproportionately constrains…

Introduction Clinical education is a cornerstone of midwifery training. Although international studies highlight the importance of preceptor support, predictability, and a positive learning environm...

Introduction: Diversifying the midwifery workforce is a promising strategy for advancing perinatal health and reducing disparities. Clinical education is essential to midwifery training; yet, the experiences of sexual and gender minority (SGM) midwifery students in these settings remain underexplored. Methods: We conducted a national cross-sectional survey of certified nurse-midwives and certified midwives certified between 2019 and 2024 (n = 4117) about their clinical education experiences. Six hundred forty respondents completed the survey, with a 16% response rate. Multiple clinical education measures were self-reported: perceived competency, satisfaction with preceptorship, quality of interactions, and experiences of bias, harassment, bullying, or abuse. The primary exposure was SGM identity, defined as identifying as non-heterosexual and/or non-cisgender. Multivariable logistic regression models, adjusted for demographic and training characteristics, assessed the associations between SGM identity and clinical education outcomes. Results: One-fifth of the respondents identified as SGM. Across nearly all measures examined, SGM respondents reported significantly poorer experiences than non-SGM peers. In the descriptive results, they were less likely to report excellent interactions with preceptors (47.5% vs. 63.1%), other midwives (24.6% vs. 46.3%), and physicians (11.0% vs. 21.7%) and were less likely to report no gender- or sexual orientation-related bias (46.6% vs. 80.1%). SGM respondents were also more likely to experience bullying, harassment, or abuse during training. Fully adjusted models showed patterns consistent with these findings. Conclusion: SGM midwifery students experience lower-quality clinical education and higher exposure to bias and mistreatment. Addressing these inequities is critical for building a diverse midwifery workforce and broader efforts to advance perinatal health equity.

This survey study assesses the quality of contraceptive counseling received by adolescents and its association with use of a preferred method of contraception using data from the 2022 to 2023 National...

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Low birth rates in the U.S. (and elsewhere) have become a hot topic of conversation – and a cause for major concern among many, including the current Presidential administration. These concerns have g...

Misconceptions about what emergency contraception does are common and have resulted in policy efforts to restrict access. Understanding the beliefs an…

Trump and Republicans' move to downgrade nursing degrees shows women’s expertise is still treated as expendable and unprofessional.

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Introduction The national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) has experienced considerable declines in response rates, increases in missing data on sexual experience, and shifts in data collection – all...

For decades, abortion opponents swore that they had created a single-issue movement and had no interest in changing access to birth control.

The Center for American Progress recently hosted a summit with more than 50 advocates from the reproductive and disability rights communities to identify the most pressing policy priorities they face.