Self-administered injectable contraception has been available in the U.S. for over 20 years — yet a new study found that only about a quarter of reproductive health experts prescribe it, and many don’t know it exists.
This is the first study to document the barriers preventing widespread U.S. adoption of self-administered injectable contraception.
The study highlights the value of patient-centered communication, continuity of care, and models that acknowledge patients as “experts in their own experience.” This shift can meaningfully improve both outcomes and satisfaction, according to senior author Jennifer Karlin, MD, PhD, UCSF Associate Professor of Family & Community Medicine and Principal Investigator of UCSF Reproductive Health Hotline. Dr. Karlin is also affiliated with UCSF Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health.
Read the UCSF News article.
The work was supported by a grant from the Society of Family Planning.