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The encouraging news that teen pregnancy rates have been on the decline comes to us from the Journal of Adolescent Health. The amount of medically accurate information available for teens has increased. The conversation about what constitutes safe sex as well as the fact that some teens are simply waiting until later in life to engage in sexual activity also plays a role.  The teens who are sexually active are getting better about using safe and effective contraceptive methods such as “the pill” to avoid pregnancy, as well as condoms to avoid sexual transmitted infections. Additionally, the stigma around talking about sexual activity has diminished, and the discussion of sex of all kinds has empowered teens to have more open discussions with their educators and partners.

National Survey of Family Health
Laura Lindberg, PhD and colleagues reviewed data between 2007 and 2012 from the National Survey of Family Health to see substantial declines in adolescent pregnancy and birth rates in the United States occurred between 2007 and 2012. They wanted to find out if sexual activity, contraceptive use, and contraceptive efficacy correlated to the declines in the pregnancy and birth rates during this time. It did.

The researchers found that the contraceptive behaviors of sexually active adolescents have driven the recent shifts in fertility outcomes. The increases in overall contraceptive use during sexual intercourse between the years 2007 to 2012 are part of a longer trend. Between 1995 and 2012, any method use at last sex among adolescent women increased from 66% to 86%, while use of multiple methods increased from 11% to 37% during this time.

Public policy and programs can play a critical role in supporting adolescent contraceptive use. Since contraceptive use is the critical driver of adolescent fertility, it is important to ensure adolescents’ access to comprehensive sexuality education that provides medically accurate information about contraception.

Our practice offers a variety of solutions to pregnancy prevention, which can be stopped or removed at the time our patients are ready to start a family. We support the entire lifecycle of women, and it all starts with a healthy young adulthood.

To learn more please call the office at (202)293-1000 or email the practice at info@intimmedicine.com

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Participants in ob/gyn trials experience better health outcomes compared with non-participants, according to a new article in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (BJOG). Scientists from England have found that women who join ob/gyn clinical trials had better health outcomes than the population of women who did not. The research team at Queen Mary University of London looked at 21 studies that focused on pregnancy and reproductive health. The review included 20,160 women and found that clinical trial participants had 25% better odds of improved health outcomes compared with non-participants.

I have been conducting clinical research for more than 35 years as a principal investigator for a variety of indications in women’s health including contraceptives, low libido/desire, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, menstrual migraines, symptoms of menopause (i.e., hot flashes and night sweats), vulvovaginal atrophy, osteoporosis, overactive bladder, and weight loss. Notable recent FDA approvals include Addyi® (flibanserin, Sprout Pharmaceuticals), Saxenda® (liraglutide, Novo Nordisk), and generic vaginal estrogen tablets, Yuvafem®.

Women’s participation in clinical trials has improved in many areas, but to continue this momentum, more women should speak up and find out if a trial of a medication can help them. There are a variety of opportunities to participate, and more to come every day.

Our practice is currently seeking patients in the following areas.

  • An oral medication for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding due to uterine fibroids.
  • An oral medication for the treatment of moderate to severe endometriosis related pain.

Why should you participate in a clinical trial?

It may help you better understand your medical condition.
You could be part of an ongoing process that may benefit others in the future. There can be great satisfaction from being a part of scientific research.

To learn more please call the office at (202)293-1000 or email the practice at info@intimmedicine.com.

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