AJMC - The American Journal of Managed Care’s Post

In the year and a half following the Supreme Court Dobbs decision that revoked the federal right to an abortion, hundreds more infants died than expected in the United States, new research shows. The vast majority of those infants had congenital anomalies, or birth defects. Earlier research – spurred by a CNN investigative report - found that infant mortality spiked in Texas after a 6-week abortion ban took effect in 2021, and experts say the new data suggests that the impacts of the bans and restrictions enacted by some states post-Dobbs have been large enough to affect broader trends. “This is evidence of a national ripple effect, regardless of state-level status,” said Dr. Parvati Singh, an assistant professor of epidemiology with The Ohio State University College of Public Health and lead author of the new study. In the new paper, published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics, Singh and co-author Dr. Maria Gallo, a professor of epidemiology and associate dean of research with the Ohio State University College of Public Health, compared infant mortality rates for the 18 months following the Dobbs decision against historical trends. https://buff.ly/4dUVID2 #womenshealth #femtech #healthtech #digitalhealth #healthcare #healthcareinnovation #startups #innovation #health #medtech #healthcareresearch #femalehealth #genderhealthgap #reproductivehealth #venturecapital #vc #funding #investment #grants #maternalhealth #periods #menstruation #sexualhealth #sextech #menopause #fertility #pregnancy #postpartum #eggfreezing #IVF #healthequity #pelvicfloor #pelvicfloorhealth #hormonehealth

Certainly, the issue of women's reproductive health remains a significant concern globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Access to healthcare shouldn't depend on gender, but unfortunately, societal norms and systemic barriers often restrict women's access to essential services. Misinformation and limited decision-making power further exacerbate these challenges, leaving women vulnerable to health risks, disparities and misinformation. Read more to explore why homemade/DIY pregnancy tests are still prevalent: https://lnkd.in/gn4mSiup #FactCheck #Healthinformation #healthcare #misinformation #healthawareness #healthliteracy #THIP #THIPMedia #ReproductiveHealth #womenshealth

Inadequate access to health services before, during, and after pregnancy is a key factor contributing to the U.S. maternal mortality rate being higher than that of other high-income countries. The recently published 2024 State Scorecard on Women’s Health and Reproductive Care by The Commonwealth Fund ranks Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island at the top based on 32 measures of healthcare access, quality, and outcomes. Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, and Oklahoma ranked the lowest. States with the lowest maternal mortality rates had: ➡️ More maternity care providers (Vermont #2, Connecticut #3) ➡️ Fewer women without prenatal care (Vermont #1, California #3, Connecticut #5) ➡️ Fewer women without postpartum checkups (Vermont #1) ➡️ Fewer uninsured women ages 19–64 (Vermont #3) If you are a p#rovider or part of a provider network looking to improve reproductive care with limited resources, please reach out to us! Our software ensures that your patients receive the #diagnostic workup they need based on their risk profile, reducing the time and physical touchpoints required with providers. #levyhealth #reproductivecare Silvia Hecher

A new report from The Commonwealth Fund highlights alarming issues in women's health, especially in states with the highest maternal mortality rates like Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. At Visana Health, we're addressing these gaps with a comprehensive, accessible care model that supports women from preconception to postpartum and beyond. At Visana Health, we decrease pregnancy risks and reduce the need for costly fertility treatments through personalized health plans with world-class clinical standards. Our comprehensive care model includes continuous care with virtual consultations and health coach check-ins to manage conditions like PCOS and improve overall well-being. The impact of such care is evident in states with the lowest maternal mortality rates, like Vermont and California, where comprehensive care makes a significant difference. These states set a benchmark for success by offering more maternity care providers and ensuring access to prenatal and postpartum care. Vermont, for example, boasts the highest rate of women receiving prenatal care and the fewest uninsured women ages 19–64, contributing to their top ranking in maternal health. Read more about the report here: https://lnkd.in/e-MESUSP #WomensHealth #PreconceptionCare #HealthcareSolutions #VisanaHealth #DigitalHealth

Mifepristone restrictions will expand the existing divide in reproductive health outcomes that disproportionately affects low-income communities and underserved populations. Maternal mortality in the US is already well above that of other high-resource countries and is on the rise. Pregnancy outcomes are shockingly inequitable; the maternal mortality rate for Black women is consistently 2.5 times the rate for White women. Ongoing pregnancy and the postpartum period pose far greater risks for harm and death for the pregnant individual than abortion. Early evidence demonstrates the increased maternal mortality from abortion restrictions with outsized impact on historically excluded communities.

Texas is an example of what happens when governments restrict access to abortion--babies die. Access to comprehensive reproductive health care is intrinsically related to good birth outcomes. But it doesn't end at birth. When abortion is banned or severely restricted, neonatal and infant mortality rise. Let's be clear--restricting access to abortion causes harm and suffering for women, infants and their families. #ReproductiveRights #ReproductiveHealth #Healthcare #Women

What drives the shift from reliable contraceptive methods to less effective alternatives? In their pivotal study, McNee and colleagues (2025) delve into this pressing question, uncovering a marked transformation in contraceptive preferences among abortion patients in England between 2018 and 2023. This cross-sectional analysis, encompassing over 88,000 cases, reveals a striking decline in hormonal contraceptive use (18.8% to 11.3%) and long-acting reversible contraception (3% to 0.6%), coupled with a surge in reliance on fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) from 0.4% to 2.5%. Alarmingly, the proportion of patients reporting no contraceptive use at conception leapt from 55.8% to 69.6%. The study attributes this shift to multiple factors, including the rise of “natural” contraceptive preferences amplified by social media and the barriers to accessing healthcare post-pandemic. FABMs, often supported by mobile apps, offer convenience but lack the reliability of hormonal or long-acting methods, posing significant risks for unintended pregnancies. McNee and colleagues underscore the urgency for enhanced public education on contraceptive efficacy and improved access to reliable options. By illuminating the complexities of contraceptive trends, this research not only informs policy and healthcare delivery but also underscores the need for addressing systemic barriers to effective contraception. This study is a clarion call for action in reproductive health advocacy. Rosie McNee , Hannah McCulloch Anna Glasier Luchuo Engelbert Bain

Over 350,000 babies were born at 37 weeks or sooner in 2023 (Edwards, 2024). Are abortion restrictions impacting prenatal care? There are a number of factors which contribute to preterm birth such as: diabetes, high blood pressure, high levels of stress, and certain types of infections. Women who reside in areas where there aren’t enough OBGYNs and abortion restrictions could be at higher risk for poor health outcomes. See article below for more information. #health #healthnews #healthblog #medical #medicalnews #pretermbirth #OBGYN #healthcare #prenatalcare #newblogpost.  https://lnkd.in/eCPS4jjZ

What is reproductive health leave and why do we need it?

Women are at unnecessary risk, please take the time to educate yourself and others (This is not for or against, it is Education) It's very important that non medical people understand that the word abortion in medicine means many things: Threatened Abortion: pregnant and bleeding many lose baby Spontaneous Abortion: Miscarriage Recurrent Abortion: recurring miscarriages Septic Abortion: Pregnancy loss caused by infection Ectopic Pregnancy: products of conception in fallopian tube not uterus, emergency surgical situation to avoid rupture of tube Elective abortion: Individual decides to terminate pregnancy The only one of these that is chosen is an " Elective Abortion" and with the current political fervor, women are not getting care for the other conditions known in medicine as "Abortion" This is the AWHONN (Association of Women's Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses) statement on Abortion and Contraception https://lnkd.in/gEAZmjD8 NS