Collaborative for Reproductive Equity

Higgins talks about crisis pregnancy centers with Cap Times

A recent article in the Cap Times dives into crisis pregnancy centers in Wisconsin and nationwide. “Do crisis pregnancy centers help women or mislead them?” discusses the importance of understanding what crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) are and offer in light of statewide abortion restrictions.Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH, director of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Pop... more

Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Cutler and Higgins talk about impact of abortion restrictions with National Public Radio

A recent story on National Public Radio profiled a Wisconsin woman whose pregnancy plans changed in light of abortion restrictions in the state. UW Ob-Gyn Assistant Professor Abby Cutler, MD, and Division of Reproductive and Population Health and UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity (CORE) Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH, both added perspective to the story.Cutler talke... more

Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Williamson discusses federal travel funding bill with WPR

In an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Associate Director Amy Williamson, MPP, shares context around a new bill proposed by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) that would provide federal funding for grants to support abortion-related travel.The Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act would fund grants to support travel, child care, an... more

Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Amy Williamson

CORE researchers publish conference abstracts in Contraception

Faculty, researchers and trainees in the UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity brought posters and presentations to the 2022 Society of Family Planning annual meeting in Baltimore, MD in December. Three abstracts presented at the conference were published in Contraception!Characterizing physician concerns with publicly supporting abortion – AS Cutler, LT Swan, M Lands, NB... more

Reproductive and Population Health Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Publication Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Laura Jacques Jenny Higgins Madison Lands

Swan, Cutler, Higgins in publish study in AJOG

A new article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology uses data from a 2019 survey of UW SMPH physicians to assess physicians’ understanding of whether contraceptive methods work by causing abortion. Laura Swan, PhD, LCSW, postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Population Health Sciences Green Inequality Lab, is first author on the study.In “Physic... more

Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Reproductive and Population Health Publication Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

CORE research brief projects access issues after Dobbs decision

A new research brief by UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity researcher Jason Fletcher, PhD and CORE alumna Joanna Venator, PhD estimates changes in birth rates and number of abortions following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision earlier this year. “Assessing access to abortion services for Wisconsin residents post-Roe” builds on previous research conducted by Fletc... more

Collaborative for Reproductive Equity

Higgins discusses abortion misinformation with CNN

After the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade in June, misinformation about self-managed abortions has blown up on social media. CNN reporters spoke with experts across the country, including UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity and UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH, about self-managed abortion (SMA)... more

Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

CORE postdoc Seymour published in AJPH

Jane Seymour, PhD, postdoctoral trainee in the UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity, is the lead author on a new publication in the American Journal of Public Health examining telemedicine policies for medication abortion.In “Potential Impact of Telemedicine for Medication Abortion Policy and Programming Changes on Abortion Accessibility in the United States”, Seymour an... more

Publication Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity

CORE’s WOMB Lab publishes brief on abortion education for medical students

A new brief published by the UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity WOMB Lab (led by Abigail Cutler, MD and Laura Jacques, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn) examines the availability of abortion training for medical students and outlines the ways increasing abortion training can improve patient care and expand physician skills.“Medical Studen... more

Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity

In the News: Higgins shares insights in post-Roe reporting

Since the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on June 24, overturning the constitutionally protected right to abortion, UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health and UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH spoke with several news outlets to answer questions a... more

Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Cutler and Higgins discuss possible impacts of Roe decision on physician training

A recent article in the Wisconsin Examiner investigated potential difficulties for physician training programs after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.“Medical training programs teach abortion procedures. What happens if abortion is outlawed?” outlines the national standards for training set by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), whi... more

Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Higgins discusses future of abortion research in challenging atmosphere with STAT

A new article in STAT talks to researchers who specialize in reproductive health about what the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24 decision overturning Roe v. Wade might mean for research about abortion in the future.In “These researchers study abortion in states likely to ban it. That will make their jobs even harder”, UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health and ... more

Reproductive and Population Health Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Women’s Healthcast: The State of Abortion Rights in 2022, with Jenny Higgins, PhD

Sometime in the next few weeks, the United States Supreme Court will issue a decision in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Their decision in this case could have huge effects on abortion legality and abortion access across the country.To share information about today’s landscape of abortion access in Wisconsin, what the Supreme Court decision could mean,... more

Reproductive and Population Health Outreach Podcast Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins Jacquelyn Askins Rob Garza

Wisconsin Watch interviews UW Ob-Gyn faculty on abortion laws

Wisconsin Watch, a nonprofit news organization, recently published two articles about the complex future of abortion in Wisconsin and physician opinions on why abortion is a necessary part of health care. UW Ob-Gyn faculty shared their expertise in both articles.“Wisconsin faces a ‘tangled series’ of abortion laws dating back to 1849 as it heads into a possible post-Roe futu... more

Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Higgins talks about physician perspectives on abortion with Here and Now

On Wisconsin Public Television’s Here and Now, UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health Director and UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH shared data from a study of physician opinions on abortion.Higgins joined Here and Now on May 20 to answer questions about how supportive physicians are of abortion access, how they thin... more

Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Higgins quoted in article about mobile abortion clinics

As questions arise about the future of abortion access in many states, health care providers are pursuing creative solutions to provide abortion care to more patients. In “Abortion care on wheels”, the Wisconsin Examiner profiled Just the Pill, an online, nonprofit clinic that dispenses medication abortion. Just the Pill is working on rolling out mobile clinics in many state... more

Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Higgins discusses potential impact of US Supreme Court decision on reproductive health care in Wisconsin with WTMJ

UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health Director and UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH spoke with WTMJ about some possible implications for reproductive health care in Wisconsin if Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.In the interview, Higgins fielded questions about whether miscarriage is distinguishabl... more

Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

2022 Department Research Day

On May 26, 2022, the UW Department of Ob-Gyn hosted Department Research Day, which included many research presentations from across the Department.Jeffrey Peipert, MD, chair of the Indiana University School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, kicked off Department Research Day with the keynote presentation “The Contraceptive CHOICE Project to Path4You: Les... more

Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Gynecologic Oncology Maternal-Fetal Medicine Reproductive and Population Health Education Fellowship Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jennifer Jacobson Shannon Rush Laura Jacques

UW CORE develops research briefs on abortion and access in Wisconsin

Researchers in the UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity have developed topical briefs in the last several weeks about abortion access, reproductive health laws, and more. The briefs provide overviews of topics that may be of increased interest as we wait for changes to abortion laws and access in Wisconsin:Self-Managed AbortionWhat Would Happen In Wisconsin If Roe v. Wad... more

Reproductive and Population Health Research Publication Collaborative for Reproductive Equity

In the News: Higgins discusses Supreme Court decision and abortion restrictions

Since the May 2 leak of a draft U.S. Supreme Court memo that suggests the court’s intention to overturn Roe v. Wade later this summer, researchers and scholars have shared insights on the current landscape of abortion access in the country, and potential implications for the coming Supreme Court decision.UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity and UW Ob-Gyn Division of Repr... more

Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Higgins co-authors study in The Lancet Regional Health

A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas looks at movement across state lines to obtain abortion care in 2017. UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity and Division of Reproductive and Population Health Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH co-authored the article.“Abortion travel within the United States: An observational study of cross-state movement to ob... more

Reproductive and Population Health Publication Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Study published in AJOG by UW CORE team examines contraceptive satisfaction and sexual side effects

A new study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology uses data from a longitudinal cohort study to examine whether sexual acceptability of a contraceptive method predicts contraceptive satisfaction at three months.“A prospective analysis of the relationship between sexual acceptability and contraceptive satisfaction over time”, by Renee Kramer, PhD, MPH, UW Colla... more

Reproductive and Population Health Publication Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Higgins authors article in Journal of Sex Research

A new article in the Journal of Sex Research by UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health and UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity (CORE) Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH introduces the concept of “erotic equity” and examines the connections between socioeconomics and sexual wellbeing.In “Socioeconomics and Erotic Inequity: A Theoretical Overview and Narra... more

Reproductive and Population Health Publication Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins Madison Lands Mfonobong Ufot

Higgins, Senderowicz publish study in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health

A new study in the journal Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health by UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH and Health Disparities Research Scholar Leigh Senderowicz, ScD examines connections between economic resources and sexual wellbeing.“Sex, poverty, and public health: Connections between sexual wellbeing and eco... more

Reproductive and Population Health Publication Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Health Disparities Research Scholars Jenny Higgins Leigh Senderowicz

CORE study published in SSM – Population Health

A study in the latest issue of SSM – Population Health examines physicians’ knowledge of referral for abortion care. UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, as well as former UW Ob-Gyn members Cynthie Wautlet, MD and Nicholas Schmuhl, PhD, are co-authors on the study. “Willing but unable: Physicians' referral knowledge as barriers to abortion ca... more

Reproductive and Population Health Publication Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Study from CORE investigator Nobles published in PNAS

A new study by UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity investigator Jenna Nobles, PhD found that 22% of menstrual cycle tracking apps users had irregular cycles. Cycle irregularities may mean delays in learning about pregnancies and challenges accessing abortion, depending on state-level restrictions. Nobles is a professor in the UW-Madison Department of Sociology and direc... more

Reproductive and Population Health Research Publication Collaborative for Reproductive Equity

Higgins and Jacques publish in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

A recent article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health by UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH, Laura Jacques, MD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, and co-authors, used anonymized data from an online forum to examine how cost-related barriers affect peoples’ ability ... more

Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Reproductive and Population Health Publication Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins Laura Jacques

Save the Dates: UW Ob-Gyn 2022 Research Events

Save the dates for three UW Department of Ob-Gyn research events in 2022:February 24, 2022 - Resident Research DayFeaturing a keynote presentation by Lisa Hollier, MD, MPH, professor of ob-gyn at Baylor College of Medicine and former president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Resident research presentations by PGY-4 residents John Poehlmann, MD, an... more

Gynecologic Oncology Maternal-Fetal Medicine Reproductive and Population Health Education Research Residency Fellowship Events Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins Jennifer Jacobson Laura Jacques Ushma Patel Daniel Pellicer John Poehlmann Shannon Rush Vienna Tran Matthew Wagar Jordan Ward

Higgins publishes in SSM – Population Health

A publication currently available online in the journal SSM – Population Health examines physicians’ knowledge of referral for abortion care. UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, as well as former UW Ob-Gyn members Cynthie Wautlet, MD and Nicholas Schmuhl, PhD, are co-authors on the study.“Willing but unable: Physicians' referral knowledge as... more

Reproductive and Population Health Publication Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Higgins talks about US Supreme Court case Dobbs v Jackson on NBC15

In early December, the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case involving a Mississippi state law that banned abortions after 15 weeks. UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD spoke with NBC-15 about what that case could mean for abortion access in Wisconsin. A decision in the case is exp... more

Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Jacques publishes in AJOG

A new article in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology analyzed posts on Reddit to help better document peoples’ decision-making processes regarding abortion modality. “Medication or surgical abortion? An exploratory study of patient decision making on a popular social media platform”, by Laura Jacques, MD and other researchers from the UW Collaborative for Repr... more

Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Publication Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Laura Jacques

Study by UW CORE researchers published in Contraception

A new study in Contraception uses data from a survey of UW School of Medicine and Public Health physicians to assess physician support for abortion access and abortion providers. The study also examines physicians’ perceptions of their peers’ attitudes towards abortion and abortion providers. “Physician attitudes about abortion and their willingness to consult in abortion c... more

Publication Research Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Laurel Rice Jenny Higgins

Kramer publishes in Women’s Health Issues

A recent publication by UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity trainee Renee Kramer, PhD aimed to understand how Medicaid changes in Wisconsin affected provision of immediate postpartum LARC. The article was published in Women’s Health Issues. “Provision of Immediate Postpartum Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives Before and After Wisconsin Medicaid's Payment Change” exa... more

Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Research Publication

Higgins published in JAMA Internal Medicine

A new study co-authored by UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD and published in JAMA Internal Medicine examines the association of sexual satisfaction and self-reported sexual acceptability with continued contraceptive use over time. “Association Between Patients’ Perceptions of the Sexual Acceptability of Contraceptive Methods and Continued... more

Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Reproductive and Population Health Research Publication Jenny Higgins

Rice, Higgins make case for health care provider proficiency with contraceptives in Health Affairs blog

UW Ob-Gyn Department Chair Laurel Rice, MD, and UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, co-authored an article for Health Affairs outlining the reasons it’s critical that health care providers seek out accurate information on contraceptive care. Inaccuracies or misunderstandings about how birth control works shape public perception and affect he... more

Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Reproductive and Population Health Publication Laurel Rice Jenny Higgins

Key findings from UW CORE study published on Scholar Strategy Network

In 2012, the Wisconsin legislature passed Act 217, which increased regulation on medication abortion care in our state. The legislation included a ban on telemedicine provision of medication abortion, restrictions on who can prescribe the medication, and more. A new Scholar Strategy Network article by UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity trainee and UWSMPH medical stude... more

Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Research

Higgins publishes on contraceptive satisfaction in Journal of Sex Research

Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH, director of the UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity and member of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health, published a new study in the Journal of Sex Research. “Sexual Functioning, Satisfaction, and Well-Being Among Contraceptive Users: A Three-Month Assessment From the HER Salt Lake Contraceptive Initiative” followed new ... more

Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Reproductive and Population Health Research Publication Jenny Higgins

Higgins, Schmuhl, Wautlet, Rice publish in American Journal of Public Health

Findings from a UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity study on how doctors view access to abortion has been published in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health. In the research-based editorial “The Importance of Physician Concern and Expertise in Increasing Abortion Health Care Access in Local Contexts”, Jenny Higgins, PhD, Nicholas Schmuhl, PhD, Cynt... more

Reproductive and Population Health Academic Specialists In Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins Nicholas Schmuhl Laurel Rice

Higgins discusses CORE research on Wide Awake in Wisconsin podcast

On the final episode of Wide Awake in Wisconsin, a podcast from the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health, UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH appeared to discuss UW CORE research on policy impacts! In the interview, Higgins talks about ongoing CORE research, and how CORE projects help inform policy decisions and development in Wisconsi... more

Reproductive and Population Health Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Jenny Higgins

Higgins published in Contraception

UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD published the article “Beyond Safety and Efficacy: Sexuality-Related Priorities and Their Associations with Contraceptive Method Selection” in Contraception!In the study, Higgins and colleagues assessed contraceptive preferences in people selecting new methods, and gauged whether (and to what degree) sexual... more

Reproductive and Population Health Research Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Publication Jenny Higgins