Rana E. Barar

Discusses a survey of published researchers of long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), examines their opinions about important barriers to LARC use in the United States (US),and analyzes the projections for LARC use in the absence of barriers. Discusses the attitudes toward incentives for clinicians to provide and women to use LARC methods.

Assesses the interest in attempting and success in IUD self-removal among women seeking IUD discontinuation from five US health centers. Finds that many women are interested in the concept of IUD self-removal, although relatively few women currently succeed in removing their own IUD. Suggests that more research is needed to know whether offering the option of self-removal holds the potential to increase IUD use and reduce rates of unintended pregnancy.

Finds that adolescents and women who did not recognize their pregnancies early were most likely to delay seeking abortion care. Discusses the reasons women report for delaying care, the most common reason being the need to raise money for travel and procedure costs. Estimates that each year more than 4000 US women are denied an abortion because of facility gestational limits and must carry unwanted pregnancies to term.

Confronts recruitment challenges common to medical practice-based studies and unique to sensitive services. Argues that visiting sites and communicating frequently with facility staff, as well as offering incentives to patients to hear more about the study before informed consent, may help to increase participation in prospective health studies and facilitate evaluation of sensitive women's health services.