Portrait of Abigail S Cutler
Abigail S Cutler, MD
Assistant Professor (CHS)
Academic Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Administrative Assistant


<em>Dobbs</em> Revisited - Addressing Effects on Resident Training in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abigail S Cutler, Ellen Hartenbach

No abstract

Published: 09/23/2024

The New England journal of medicine pmid:39311134

Abortion Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents at Four Midwestern Residency Programs Prior to <em>Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health</em>

Abigail S Cutler, Elise S Cowley, Jessika A Ralph, Jessie Chen, Amy Godecker, Jordan Ward, Sarah Hutto, Laura Jacques

CONCLUSIONS: Prior to the Dobbs decision, ObGyn residents in Minnesota and Wisconsin viewed abortion as important health care and intended to provide this care after graduation.

Published: 07/18/2024

WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin pmid:39024142

Collaboration between maternal-fetal medicine and family planning: a survey of Northeast US academic medical centers

Audrey A Merriam, Lisbet Lundsberg, Abigail S Cutler, Theresa Maxam, Maureen Paul

CONCLUSIONS: Academic MFM and CFP providers in the Northeast collaborate well in providing abortion care, though our findings highlight areas that would benefit from improvement. Optimizing collaboration in the Northeast is important given its regional role for ensuring abortion access in the current national landscape. Improved education of all members of the patient care team on the importance of abortion access may also help provide optimal patient care where abortion services still legally...

Published: 10/19/2023

Journal of perinatal medicine pmid:37853776

Physician beliefs about abortion safety and their participation in abortion care

Laura E T Swan, Abigail S Cutler, Madison Lands, Nicholas B Schmuhl, Jenny A Higgins

CONCLUSION: Although abortions are associated with extremely few adverse events, a sizable portion of surveyed physicians had incorrect perceptions of the safety of abortion. These beliefs were associated with decreased support and referrals for abortion care. Educational exposure to abortion is associated with more accurate assessments of abortion safety, underscoring the importance of training in this area. Considering the current abortion policy landscape, it is imperative for physicians to...

Published: 09/18/2023

Sexual & reproductive healthcare : official journal of the Swedish Association of Midwives pmid:37722252

Sexual Harassment in Surgery-Is Operating Room Culture the Culprit?

Mollie R Freedman-Weiss, Nathan A Coppersmith, Alexander S Chiu, Danielle R Heller, Abigail S Cutler, Walter E Longo, Kristen Oliveira, Peter S Yoo

BACKGROUND: Sexual harassment is a known problem in surgical training and a focus of growing attention in recent years. However, the environments where sexual harassment in surgical training most commonly takes place are not yet described.

Published: 07/25/2023

The American surgeon pmid:37489517

Response to letter to the editor regarding physician beliefs about contraceptives as abortifacients

Laura E T Swan, Abigail S Cutler, Jenny A Higgins

No abstract

Published: 06/17/2023

American journal of obstetrics and gynecology pmid:37330124

Characterizing physician concerns with publicly supporting abortion at Wisconsin's largest medical school

Abigail S Cutler, Laura T Swan, Madison Lands, Nicholas B Schmuhl, Jenny A Higgins

CONCLUSIONS: Many physicians supportive of abortion reported concerns over publicizing their support for this common health care service. These concerns may render physicians less likely to refer patients for needed abortion care or weigh in on abortion policy.

Published: 01/11/2023

Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health pmid:36629513

Physician beliefs about contraceptive methods as abortifacients

Laura E T Swan, Abigail S Cutler, Madison Lands, Nicholas B Schmuhl, Jenny A Higgins

No abstract

Published: 10/01/2022

American journal of obstetrics and gynecology pmid:36181904

The Impact of First-Person Abortion Stories on Community-Level Abortion Stigma: A Randomized Trial

Abigail S Cutler, Lisbet S Lundsberg, Marney A White, Nancy L Stanwood, Aileen M Gariepy

CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to first-person video stories may not decrease community-level abortion stigma among U.S. adults.

Published: 07/01/2022

Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health pmid:35778255

Characterizing community-level abortion stigma in the United States

Abigail S Cutler, Lisbet S Lundsberg, Marney A White, Nancy L Stanwood, Aileen M Gariepy

CONCLUSIONS: Across multiple measurement tools, factors associated with high stigma and less favorable opinions toward policies supportive of abortion care include Catholic, Evangelical or Protestant religion and Republican political affiliation.

Published: 03/31/2021

Contraception pmid:33789081

Association of Pregnancy Contexts with Depression and Low Social Support in Early Pregnancy

Lisbet S Lundsberg, Abigail S Cutler, Nancy L Stanwood, Kimberly A Yonkers, Aileen M Gariepy

CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the need to screen women for depression early in pregnancy and to integrate assessments of pregnancy context into the evaluation of potential risk factors.

Published: 10/13/2020

Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health pmid:33047499

Development and Feasibility Testing of a Video Game to Reduce High-Risk Heterosexual Behavior in Spanish-Speaking Latinx Adolescents: Mixed Methods Study

Meredith J Pensak, Lisbet S Lundsberg, Nancy L Stanwood, Abigail S Cutler, Aileen M Gariepy

CONCLUSIONS: An iterative participatory design process in partnership with Spanish-speaking adolescents produced an innovative and acceptable Spanish-language video game intervention aimed at decreasing high-risk sexual behavior in adolescents. Pilot testing demonstrated preliminary feasibility and yielded essential information for further video game development.

Published: 05/05/2020

JMIR serious games pmid:32364507

Understanding the Barriers to Reporting Sexual Harassment in Surgical Training

Mollie R Freedman-Weiss, Alexander S Chiu, Danielle R Heller, Abigail S Cutler, Walter E Longo, Nita Ahuja, Peter S Yoo

CONCLUSION: Sexual harassment occurs in surgical training and is rarely reported. Many residents who are harassed question if the behavior they experienced was harassment or feel that reporting would be ineffectual-leading to frequent nonreporting. Surgical training programs should provide all-level education on sexual harassment and delineate the best mechanism for resident reporting of sexual harassment.

Published: 04/05/2019

Annals of surgery pmid:30946072

Connect the Dots-December 2016

Katherine W McHugh, Sarah H Milton, Abigail S Cutler, Nancy C Chescheir

No abstract

Published: 11/09/2016

Obstetrics and gynecology pmid:27824765

Rigid plastic appliance construction in the office

A S CUTLER

No abstract

Published: 03/01/1958

Journal of the American Podiatry Association pmid:13513442

Cutler adds perspective to Healio report on abortion data

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology, recently joined a Healio report to talk about the declining rates of legal abortions within the United States.

In “Number, rates of legal abortions declined nationwide from 2013 to 2022,” data was analyzed from a CDC-requested abortion data survey from health agencies across the U.S. that collected rates from 2013 to 2022. Cutler added her perspective to this report:

“The CDC report reflects a growing trend toward medication abortion, which between 2021 and 2022 did account for more than half of all abortions performed at or before 9 weeks, which represents a continued shift away from procedural abortion in early pregnancy. The growing proportion of medication abortion in the CDC's data is likely due to a number of factors — increased use of telehealth, being one — that has helped to expand access to medication for those seeking it.”

You can read the full report here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson

Cutler adds perspective to WSJ article about ob-gyn career paths post-Dobbs

An October 2024 article in the Wall Street Journal profiled an Indiana ob-gyn resident deciding where to start their career after training, in light of many states’ abortion restrictions. In the article, Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn and associate program director of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn residency, adds perspective about the shifting landscape of abortion restrictions on training and practice.  

““We can’t count on stability of access or training,” said Dr. Abigail Cutler, an OB-GYN at UW Health and professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Despite a court ruling that a 1849 state law doesn’t ban abortions, UW Health’s residency program sends residents to an academic medical center in Illinois for abortion training in case Wisconsin’s laws change.” 

The article “A Young Doctor’s Dilemma: Stay Home or Move Where Abortion Is Protected?” was originally published in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required). The full text is available on MSN as well.  

Women’s Healthcast: All About IUDs, featuring Abigail Cutler and Molly Lepic

In August 2024, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated recommendations for pain management during intrauterine device placement. 

Molly Lepic, DO, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, and Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, joined the Women’s Healthcast to tell us more about what these recommendations mean for patients and why pain management during IUD placement is such a hot topic.  

Cutler and Lepic talked about the different types of IUDs, how getting an IUD works, why pain or discomfort during the procedure can be an important consideration for many patients, and what today’s pain management options look like. 

Listen to All About IUDs now.  

Did you know the Women’s Healthcast is available on all your favorite podcast platforms? Whether you like to listen on  Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, or anywhere else, you can find us! (Just search Women’s Healthcast, and while you’re at it, may as well subscribe!) 

Cutler discusses Perspectives article on NEJM podcast

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology, joined the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) to discuss a recent a article written with Ellen Hartenbach, MD, the Chair of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn.

Dobbs Revisited — Addressing Effects on Resident Training in Obstetrics and Gynecology,” focused on the experiences of residents and practitioners across UW and Illinois to establish valuable abortion instruction in a post-Dobbs environment.

In the NEJM Podcast interview, Cutler elaborated on why abortion care training is important to medical residents, how the UW-Illinois program was established, as well as how other programs around the United States addressed the post-Dobbs decision and its impact on abortion education.

You can listen to the full podcast here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson

Cutler discusses new article on Dobbs’ impact on resident training with Healio

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, spoke with Healio about the hurdles in providing UW Department of Ob-Gyn residents with abortion training.

In “Impact of Dobbs ‘immediate and profound’ on OB/GYN residents in Wisconsin,” Cutler talked about how after the Dobbs decision, ACGME still required abortion training for residents, even for states restricted by the Dobbs decision. Many UW residents were sent to Illinois but Cutler said there was still a noticeable discrepancy in training compared to when residents could continue their education in-state.

“While training partnerships are invaluable in so many ways, they cannot be the sole solution. Educators and leaders in places with abortion bans or other restrictions must work tirelessly to reverse those restrictions in their own health care settings,” Cutler said.

You can read the full article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson

Cutler, Hartenbach publish Perspective article on post-Dobbs training in NEJM

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Ellen Hartenbach, MD, chair of the UW Department of Ob-Gyn, recently co-authored a new article published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In “Dobbs Revisited — Addressing Effects on Resident Training in Obstetrics and Gynecology,” Cutler and Hartenbach walked through their experience post-Dobbs to create a program for third-year residents to obtain necessary abortion training in Illinois. They also discussed how recent legislation from December 2023 reopened the possibility to train residents in-state, but that this ruling is under appeal and thus still uncertain.

“Our experiences aren’t unique: a substantial proportion of Ob/Gyn residents are training in states with abortion bans or major restrictions on abortion … training partnerships can make a difference, but they cannot be the sole solution; the financial and logistic barriers are high, and host programs are stretched thin already — by trainees seeking education and by patients seeking care,” the duo said.

You can read the full article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson

Grand Rounds: 2024 Shapiro Summer Research students present projects

Every summer, Shapiro Summer Research students collaborate with UW Department of Ob-Gyn faculty on research projects. On August 1, the 2024 Shapiro Summer Research students presented their projects during Ob-Gyn Grand Rounds. 

Presenters, mentors, and projects were: 

Michelle Lin, mentored by Kara Hoppe, DO, MS: The Effects of the Dobbs Decision on Sterilization Rates Based on Location Across Wisconsin

Madison Seifer, mentored by Laura Hanks, MD: Postoperative complications following gender-affirming hysterectomies

Srishi Gupta, mentored by Kara Hoppe, DO, MS: Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Young Adult Women With and Without a History of Hypertension in Pregnancy

Estelle Ndukwe, mentored by Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH: Referrals in Abortion Care

Alexandra Sabgir, mentored by Bala Bhagavath, MD: Pelvic Infection after Egg Retrieval in Patients with Endometriosis

Watch all the presentations here

Cutler published in Wisconsin Medical Journal

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, is lead author on a new article in the Wisconsin Medical Journal. Co-authors include Elise Cowley, BS, Jessika Ralph, MD, MSCI, Jessie Chen, MD, Amy Godecker, PhD, MS, Jordan Ward, MD, Sarah Hutto, MD, MPH, and Laura Jacques, MD.

In “Abortion Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions of Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents at Four Midwestern Residency Programs Prior to Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health”, Cutler and co-authors surveyed ob-gyn residents in Wisconsin and Minnesota to understand their attitudes towards abortion, interest in learning about abortion, and future career intentions regarding abortion care.

Cutler and co-authors found most residents:

“…reported highly favorable attitudes toward abortion, nearly all found the issue of abortion important, and the majority planned to incorporate abortion care into their future work. There were no differences in median attitude scores or behavioral intentions among institutions.”

Read the whole article here.

Cutler receives Group on Women in Medicine and Science Impact Award

Sincere congratulations to Abby Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, who received a 2023 UW School of Medicine and Public Health Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) Impact Award! The award was presented during the annual GWIMS Symposium on November 28, 2023.

The Impact Award recognizes significant contributions with ongoing, substantive impact in areas like advocacy, research, clinical work, education, program development, community involvement, and more.

Cutler was nominated for the award for her tireless work in the wake of the 2022 Dobbs decision, including establishing a training partnership in Illinois for ob-gyn residents, working with media to highlight the challenges of abortion restrictions, participating in research that will help us understand the long-term impacts of Dobbs, and providing compassionate patient care through it all.

Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, Dr. Cutler!

Cutler introduces governor at Wisconsin Doctor Day 2024

The Wisconsin Medical Society hosted Wisconsin Doctor Day, an annual advocacy event connecting physicians and legislators to discuss health policy issues, on January 23, 2024. Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, introduced Governor Tony Evers before his welcome remarks at the event. 

This year, Doctor Day’s advocacy focus included extending Medicaid coverage for new moms up to one year postpartum. Thanks to all who attended and helped legislators connect to this important issue, and thank you Dr. Cutler for representing the department!  

Cutler fact checks pregnancy test claims with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, spoke with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for a Politifact Wisconsin article about how soon pregnancy tests can detect a pregnancy.

In the article “Fact check: Claim that pregnancy can be detected the day after conception is false”, Cutler explained the typical timeline of fertilization and the way pregnancy tests work to detect hormonal changes:

“About five to 10 days after fertilization, the fertilized egg implants in the lining of the uterus. HCG is produced shortly afterward, Cutler said, first in low levels which rise rapidly over time.

“The very earliest someone can confirm whether they are pregnant is following implantation, the timing of which varies but can take a week or more,” she said.”

Read the whole article here.

Cutler discusses ob-gyn training and abortion restrictions on WNYC Science Daily

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, joined Science Friday for a recent podcast episode focussing on the post-Dobbs landscape across the U.S. and its implications for physicians and abortion access.

In “Abortion-Restrictive States Leave Ob-Gyns With Tough Choices,” Cutler talked about how abortion restrictions have affected physician’s abilities to train Ob-Gyn students, and effectively help patients in need of a variety of reproductive health services, not just abortion.

“Research we’re conducting here at the University of Wisconsin, which does illustrate that some OBGYNs certainly have contemplated leaving the state because of how the post-Dobbs legal landscape threatens their ability to practice medicine, and not just their ability to provide abortions, but their ability to provide standard evidence-based pregnancy care to their patients, especially when a pregnancy-related complication arises.”

Listen to the whole interview here!

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson

Cutler discusses post-Dobbs maternal care with STAT

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, spoke with STAT for a recent story about the restrictions to maternal care after the Dobbs decision across the United States.

In “Hospitals largely keep quiet on maternal care since Dobbs, STAT survey finds,” Cutler mentioned she experienced a shift in early pregnancy problem management and the pressure to wait for miscarriages in order to make sure a fetus wasn’t viable in a post-Dobbs landscape.

“When we had the threat of a criminal abortion ban, there were moments of pause when we needed to make sure we were obeying the law, which sometimes meant we could not keep the patient’s preferences front and center.”

Read the full article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson

Jacques, Wagar publish article in Wisconsin Medical Journal

Laura Jacques, MD, associate professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, and gynecologic oncology fellow Matthew Wagar, MD, recently co-authored an article in the Wisconsin Medical Journal. Co-authors include Bridget Kelly, MD, John Soehl, Janine Rhoades, MD, Elise S, Cowley, BS, Peter G. Pryde, Abigail Cutler, MD, and David Eschenbach.

In “Peripartum Uterine Clostridial Myonecrosis: A Report of Two Fatal Cases,” Jacques, Wagar, and co-authors compared two cases with clostridial infections, both having fatal endings.

“The utilization of point-of-care ultrasound may expedite the diagnosis of uterine myonecrosis. When uterine myonecrosis is suspected, immediate initiation of penicillin-based antibiotics, alongside clindamycin, and aggressive surgical intervention including hysterectomy are essential for ensuring survival.”

The research team believes awareness for these types of cases will help improve diagnosis and treatment options for this uncommon issue in the future.

Read the whole article here.

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson

Department of Ob-Gyn brings posters, presentations to 2023 Society of Family Planning Conference

Members of the Department of Ob-Gyn brought an impressive array of posters and panel sessions to the annual Society of Family Planning Conference on October 28-30, 2023 in Seattle. This conference aims to allow professionals to share research and learn from one another about abortion and contraception care. These are just a few of their exciting accomplishments:

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn and associate residency program director, moderated the panel “We travel the path of our patients: Establishing Illinois-based abortion training for Wisconsin Ob-Gyn residents". The panel included resident Alex Andes, MD, PGY-4, and colleagues from the University of Chicago, Medical College of Wisconsin, and Rush University. 

Poster: “Increase in Patients Seeking Sterilization at a Single Wisconsin Hospital: 2016-2022.” Authors: Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH; Rachel Mojdehbakhsh, MD; Bridget Kelly, MD; Laura Hanks, MD; Eliza Bennett, MD; Laura Jacques, MD. 

Laura Swan, PhD, LCSW, research scientist in the UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity and Department of Population Health Sciences, presented the poster, “Coercion in contraceptive care: Differences based on racial/ethnic identity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.” Authors: Laura Swan, Lindsay Cannon, Madison Lands, Jenny Higgins, Tiffany Green.

Incredible work, all!

**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson

Cutler discusses Convenient Contraception Act in Cap Times

In summer 2023, members of Congress introduced the Convenient Contraception Act, which could require insurers to cover up to a year’s supply of birth control at a time, with the potential of reducing the number of times an individual would need to pick up certain methods of birth control in a year. Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin is a co-sponsor of the bill. 

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, spoke with the Cap Times about what the bill could mean for contraceptive access in Wisconsin: 

To Cutler, the benefits of the bill for people seeking birth control in Wisconsin are clear.  

“I have seen an uptick anecdotally in the number of patients who come to me seeking contraception, whether reversible contraceptives like pills, patches, rings, or long-acting reversible contraceptive methods like IUDs or the arm implant, or even permanent contraception like sterilization, because of the changes in the laws here in our state,” Cutler said.” 

Read the whole article here. 

Cutler and Cox to become Associate Program Directors of UW Ob-Gyn Residency

Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, and Caroline Cox, MD, incoming assistant professor in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, will become Associate Program Directors of the UW Ob-Gyn Residency Program in September 2023. Cutler and Cox will join incoming Residency Program Director Bridget Kelly, MD, on the residency leadership team.

Cutler joined our department in August 2021. Since arriving in Wisconsin, she has taken a leading role in resident education around family planning. She became director of our department’s Ryan Residency Program in 2022, has developed new family planning curriculum for our trainees, and worked tirelessly since last summer to organize an away rotation that allows residents to gain necessary skills and experience outside of Wisconsin. Cutler’s expertise and insight will be invaluable in this role.

Cox, who will join our department in September, has demonstrated a strong commitment to resident education throughout her career. During her residency here at UW, she was one of only two members of the UW Medical Board. She has been active in resident education as a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania, including serving as director of gynecology simulation and preoperative curriculum, urogynecology educator, and a member of the resident mentorship and residency clinical competency committees.

Congratulations, Dr. Cutler and Dr. Cox, on these new roles! You will be exceptional educators, leaders, and champions for our residents.

Jacques, Cutler discuss sterilization trends with WPR

Since the US Supreme Court’s decision in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in June 2022, health care providers across the state have seen an increase in requests for permanent sterilization.

Wisconsin Public Radio reported on new sterilization services to be offered at Planned Parenthood in Milwaukee. In “Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin to begin vasectomy services in Milwaukee”, Laura Jacques, MD, associate professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn (ASOG) and Abigail Cutler, MD, assistant professor in the Division of ASOG, spoke with WPR about trends in their own clinics:

“UW Health OB-GYN Laura Jacques said after the leaked opinion, she began to notice one or two patients per day would come to her requesting sterilization. Before that, it was one or two per month, she said….

Abigail Cutler, an OB-GYN at UW Health, has seen similar trends. Many patients cite the Supreme Court ruling as a major factor in their decision, she said. It's a legitimate reason, but one she said she wishes people didn't need to consider.”

Read the whole article here.

Cutler, Higgins publish in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health

In new research published in the journal Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, UW Ob-Gyn Assistant Professor Abigail Cutler, MD, UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity and Division of Reproductive and Population Health Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH, and co-authors use survey data to examine factors associated with physicians' level of concern and perceived consequences of publicly supporting abortion. Co-authors on the publication include postdoctoral research associate Laura Swan, PhD, and CORE Research Program Manager Madison Lands, MSW, MPH.

In “Characterizing physician concerns with publicly supporting abortion at Wisconsin's largest medical school”, the authors evaluated survey responses from physicians who expressed support for abortion to identify their perceived concerns about taking public stances on abortion:

“Nearly a quarter (22%) of respondents felt very or extremely concerned that taking a strong public stance on abortion would alienate patients and 17% felt very or extremely concerned that doing so would alienate coworkers. More than a quarter (27%) felt very or extremely concerned that publicly supporting abortion would lead to harassment or harm. Those with greater concerns about expressing public support for abortion were comparatively less willing to refer for or participate in abortion care themselves.”

Read the whole study here!  

Harrison and Cutler publish op-ed on Medicaid sterilization consent practices in Health Affairs

In a new opinion piece published on Health Affairs, UW Ob-Gyn resident Margaret Harrison, MD, PGY-3, reflects on the origins of the Medicaid Sterilization Consent Form and suggests revisions to the consent form and process that could improve patient-centered, evidence-based, equitable ethical health care. 

In “Medicaid Sterilization Consent Practices Increase Barriers To Effective Contraception”, Harrison and co-author Abigail Cutler, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, open with the story of a patient who faced barriers to desired care because of the current process around Medicaid sterilization consent, including the time restrictions and requirement for in-person signatures. Harrison shares data on how often Medicaid patients may not be able to access desired procedures because of barriers from the consent process, and offers options for updating the process that could improve patient experience:

“Reevaluation and revision of the Medicaid Sterilization Consent Form should be focused on how it can serve as a tool for informed and shared decision making rather than a barrier to access. A reasonable step toward equity for reproductive access would be elimination of in-person signatures. Amidst an ongoing health pandemic, growing concerns about access to shrinking comprehensive reproductive health care in a post-Dobbs world, and rising demand for permanent contraception, we urge policy makers to work toward equitable access to reproductive health care to all patients seeking sterilization by allowing electronic signatures and expanding telemedicine capabilities for consent to provide it.”

Read the whole article here!

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

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 talked about the challenges patients and providers face in navigating the current legal restrictions:

“For doctors and patients in Wisconsin trying to live with an abortion ban in legal limbo, "the level of confusion and uncertainty and – [even] chaos – that this has injected into the provision of all sorts of pregnancy-related health care, not just induced abortion, cannot be overstated," Cutler says.”

CORE will work to measure the impacts of Wisconsin’s abortion ban. But Higgins says pregnancy intentions are nuanced, and some effects of the ban will be hard to quantify:

“"I think on balance, there'll be more people who want abortions who can't get them than people who want babies and choose not to have them because of these policies," she says. "But there'll still be a group of people – like [Petranek] – who are opting out of having another baby, and that has a major impact on their own hopes and dreams about family-making."”

Read or listen to the whole story here.  

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 Schmuhl, JA Higgins

Physician beliefs about abortion safety and their participation in abortion care – LT Swan, AS Cutler, M Lands, NB Schmuhl, JA Higgins

Covid-19 abortion experiences on reddit: A qualitative study – L Jacques, T Valley, S Zhao, N Rivera, M Lands, JA Higgins

Congratulations to all!

In the News: Cutler talks stigma and challenges in post-Dobbs Wisconsin

Abby Cutler, MD, assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, spoke with Grid News and appeared on a Wisconsin Health News panel about challenges to accessing abortion care in recent weeks.

More doctors are speaking out against abortion bans ahead of the 2022 midterm elections – Grid News

In this article, Cutler talks about how stigma may sway doctors’ decisions on whether or not to speak about abortion restrictions after the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade:

“In polls, doctors rank among the most trusted voices in American life. However, the stigma around abortion, and a widespread fear that their colleagues don’t share their concerns, may have stopped some from speaking out in the past, said Cutler. A survey of more than 900 doctors at her university’s healthcare system conducted before the Dobbs decision found that while 84 percent of the physicians supported abortion access for patients, only about 20 percent of them believed their colleagues felt the same way.”

Physicians ‘between a rock and a hard place’ when it comes to navigating abortion law – Wisconsin Health News

On this panel, Cutler talked about challenges for patients in Wisconsin who may have to leave the state to access abortion care:

““It is no small feat to seek an abortion in Illinois or Minnesota for someone in Wisconsin where the cost of travel, the cost of child care, the cost of the procedure itself, those are significant costs, financial, emotional, otherwise.””

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 “Physician Beliefs about Contraceptive Methods as Abortifacients”, Swan and co-authors (including UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive and Population Health and UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, PhD, MPH and Abby Cutler, MD, assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn) asked physicians whether they thought six common contraceptive methods worked by causing abortion. The authors then compared provider demographics with beliefs about contraception.

“Misconceptions about contraceptive methods were more common among male physicians than female physicians…Medical specialty was associated with the belief that IUDs and EC work by causing abortion.”

Read the whole study here!

Cutler talks about post-Dobbs impacts on ob-gyn training with WPR

A recent article published by Wisconsin Public Radio discusses the challenges facing ob-gyn and family medicine physicians after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision earlier this year, including uncertainty around how Wisconsin’s law criminalizing abortion will be enforced.

In “While enforceability of 1849 abortion ban is debated, health experts worry about OB-GYN recruitments”, Abby Cutler, MD, assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, talks about possible challenges when it comes to recruiting new physicians to a state with abortion restrictions:

"But in a state like Wisconsin, where we're already concerned about women's health care providers, OB-GYN shortages, this is a real worry that we would not be able to recruit and retain physicians who want to work in this space or even just doctors, you know, who want to live here and are worried about the impacts of this law on their own health," said Cutler.”

Read the whole article here.

Cutler discusses Dobbs’ impact on patient autonomy with New York Times

Abby Cutler, MD, assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, spoke with the New York Times as part of an article examining the impact of abortion bans in Wisconsin, Arizona, and Texas.

Medical Impact of Roe Reversal Goes Well Beyond Abortion Clinics, Doctors Say” outlines the way abortion bans can affect pregnancy care, cancer care, emergency medicine, and other areas of health care. In the article, Cutler describes how overturning Roe v. Wade has taken some decision-making power away from patients:

“Roe, which prohibited states from banning abortion before viability, allowed doctors to offer patients options of how they wanted to be treated. “Now that patient autonomy has gone away,” said Dr. Abigail Cutler, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“I’m compelled by my conscience to provide abortion care, and I have the training and the skills to do so compassionately and well,” she said. “And so to have my hands tied and not be able to help a person in front of me is devastating.””

Read the whole article here.

Cutler to take over as Ryan Residency Program director

Later this year, Abigail Cutler, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, will become director of the Ryan Residency Program. She will take over from Associate Professor Eliza Bennett, MD, who has led the program since 2010.

The Ryan Residency Program “works directly with ob-gyn residency programs to integrate training in abortion and contraception care (family planning) as a required rotation. All programs establish or expand abortion services in their teaching hospitals and may also create new partnerships with local clinics to train residents.”

Cutler, who is fellowship-trained in complex family planning, joined the department in 2021. Since arriving in Wisconsin, she has taken a leading role in resident education around family planning, developing a new curriculum and working tirelessly to organize an away rotation that will allow residents to build their skills outside of Wisconsin. Her expertise and insight will be invaluable in this role.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Bennett leading the Ryan Residency Program for 12 years, and congratulating Dr. Cutler on this new role!

In the News: Cutler shares insight 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 Assistant Professor Abigail Cutler, MD, of the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, has spoken with many news outlets to discuss what that decision could mean for the future of reproductive health care in Wisconsin and beyond:

After Roe, doctors grapple with limits placed on the care they can provide – NBC News

In a story about the gray area of abortion ban exceptions for the life of the pregnant person, Cutler talks about the challenges in applying the policy:

“Right now, all states with bans make exceptions for the life of the mother, meaning doctors can legally terminate a pregnancy if the mother will die. But doctors say that what constitutes imminent death has remained vague under the laws and they now fear that the shifting legal landscape is putting pregnant patients in grave danger.

“Abortion is still life-saving care,” Cutler said. “Someone is dying in front of you and if you do not intervene, they will die. But what constitutes saving the life of the mother can be impossible to pin down. How sick does a mother need to be? How much blood would they have lost?””

Wisconsin doctors scramble to understand abortion care post-Roe v. Wade – Wisconsin Public Radio

In this interview, Cutler talks about the many uncertainties facing clinical care providers in Wisconsin, including confusion about Wisconsin’s exception in cases where abortion is necessary to save the life of the pregnant person:

“"Knowing when that line is, when does a patient, when does a mother or a future mother become sick enough or is in enough danger to require life-saving treatment immediately," Cutler told Wisconsin Public Radio. "I think that's a really difficult line. There is no line, really.””

How Close to Death Does a Person Have to Be to Qualify for an Abortion Ban Exemption? – Mother Jones

In this article, Cutler also shared insights into the challenges of exceptions for abortion care in emergency situations:

“The ambiguity in Wisconsin’s state abortion ban, for instance, has left doctors like Abigail Cutler, an OBGYN in Wisconsin, in an impossible bind. Wisconsin’s law, written in 1849, allows abortions to “save the life of the mother.” “Where’s that line?” Cutler asks. “How close does a patient need to be? On the brink of death for me to step in and intervene? What if I wait too long and she dies in front of me? Or what if in the eyes of some prosecutor who’s not a doctor, not at the bedside, not staring at the patient bleeding or infected in front of them—to them, what if I intervene too soon, and I’m charged and risk going to prison?””

Cutler published in Women’s Health Issues

UW Ob-Gyn Assistant Professor Abigail Cutler, MD, of the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, published a randomized trial in Women’s Health Issues.

In “The Impact of First-Person Abortion Stories on Community-Level Abortion Stigma: A Randomized Trial”, Cutler and co-authors randomized participants to view either three video stories about someone’s abortion experience, or three narrated nature videos. Before, immediately after, and three months after watching the videos, participants responded to a questionnaire based on three existing stigma scales: the Community Abortion Attitudes Scale, Reproductive Experiences and Events Scale, and Community Level Abortion Stigma Scale:

“Evidence-based stigma reduction interventions are crucial for reproductive rights and public health advocates who seek to sway public opinion on abortion-related policy, for abortion care providers who endeavor to decrease abortion stigma toward their patients and themselves, for individuals who seek abortion care, and for their loved ones and friends who help them to navigate that experience. Despite the growing popularity of abortion storytelling, this randomized trial does not offer evidence that sharing first-person abortion stories with the general public decreases community-level abortion stigma.”

Read the whole study, and its implications for policy and practice, here.

Green, Cutler, Jacques discuss Wisconsin’s post-Roe future with Wisconsin Watch

Three UW Ob-Gyn faculty joined Wisconsin Watch in an audio interview on July 18 to discuss the current landscape of reproductive health care in Wisconsin after the United States Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. Wisconsin Watch hosted the conversation on Twitter, which you can listen to here

Assistant Professor Abby Cutler, MD, of the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, shared trends in questions coming from patients since the Dobbs decision, including concerns about being able to access necessary care and criminalization of abortion care.

Assistant Professor Tiffany Green, PhD, of the Division of Reproductive and Population Health discussed the income and economic inequities deepened by Roe’s overturn.  

Assistant Professor Laura Jacques, MD, of the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, answered questions about the effects of the Dobbs decision on counseling patients; stress and uncertainty added by Wisconsin legal restrictions to abortion; and impact on medical education in Wisconsin.

Listen to the whole conversation here.

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), which requires a family planning curriculum and the option for resident physicians to be trained in the provision of abortion.

In the article, UW Ob-Gyn assistant professor Abigail Cutler, MD, discusses the potential downstream effects of limiting training in abortion procedures:

“In surveys of OB/GYN doctors, those who have had less training in abortion care or none at all have reported that they “felt less prepared to offer comprehensive care to people who are experiencing a miscarriage,” Cutler says. For doctors with more exposure to and practice in abortion care, “there was a correlation between that and their comfort level with surgically managing miscarriage later on.””

Also in the article, Division of Reproductive and Population Health and UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, MD, MPH, shares results from UW research that found broad support for abortion among physicians:

“In 2019, the Collaborative for Reproductive Equity (CORE) at the UW medical school polled the school’s doctors on the impact of restrictions on abortion that had been enacted since 2011. More than 900 doctors responded to the survey, and more than 90% said overturning Roe v Wade “would worsen Wisconsin women’s health,” says Jenny Higgins, CORE’s director. 

“We surveyed people across all medical specialties, and we found overwhelming support for abortion services as well as abortion providers,” Higgins says. In addition to the concerns for women’s health, a majority said that more restrictions on abortion “make it more difficult to recruit faculty and trainees.””

Read the whole article here.

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 future” includes interviews with Abby Cutler, MD, associate professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn, and Division of Reproductive and Population Health/UW Collaborative for Reproductive Equity Director Jenny Higgins, MD, MPH. 

Cutler discussed the impact the coming U.S. Supreme Court decision that may overturn Roe v. Wade could have on abortion care in Wisconsin. Higgins shared information on current barriers to accessing abortion care, and perspective on whether laws limiting abortion access are based in medicine and science.

In “Are abortions ever medically necessary? Wisconsin doctors say yes.”, Cutler and emeritus professor Doug Laube, MD talked about the physical risks that come with carrying a pregnancy, and instances where restrictions to abortion access may put peoples’ health at risk.  

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