Updates from Gynuity Health Projects
This fall, the United States witnessed an assault on reproductive rights when a near-total ban on abortion came into force in Texas. The Texas law, S.B. 8, severely limits an individual's ability to access safe and legal abortion and obliges many abortion-seekers to travel out of state for the procedure. People who already face discriminatory barriers to health care will be most acutely hit. The travel costs, loss of wages and care responsibilities involved in travelling long distances for essential abortion services can be a substantial hardship. Over a third of qualifying participants who chose to receive abortion pills by mail in our U.S. TelAbortion study lived 150 miles or farther from their clinic site.

For almost two decades, Gynuity Health Projects has invested in evaluating and promoting streamlined approaches to medical abortion care to meet the needs of the consumer. We stand united with colleagues and allies who are challenging attempts by states, including Texas and Mississippi, to roll back abortion access in the U.S.
Today is “Giving Tuesday”, a chance to donate to the causes you believe in. We invite you to support Gynuity Health Projects on this day of global giving. Your contribution can help us promote easier access to medical abortion in U.S. states and in other countries where abortion is restricted; simplify medical abortion screening and follow-up; and, reduce disparities in access to new models of medical abortion care. Join us to improve access for people who need abortion: Donate Now   
PUBLISHED RESEARCH
Gestational Age Testing Using Placental Proteins

We completed a study to confirm the relationship between pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and gestational age in a population of people seeking abortion care (publication forthcoming). Recent published research by Gynuity Health Projects and the University of Illinois, Chicago compared different commercially available assays that measure PAPP-A to determine the most promising one for the future development of a point-of-care test. Our prior exploratory study examining a variety of candidate proteins identified PAPP-A as a potential biomarker for gestational age. 
New Research on the Costs to Users of Quality-Assured Medical Abortion Products

An analysis by Gynuity Health Projects and the International Planned Parenthood Federation has shown that there is a wide variation in the cost and availability of abortion pills across regions and countries. The infrequent availability of mifepristone and combination mifepristone-misoprostol packs, in addition to the limited availability of quality-assured medicines and high cost of abortion medications, are important factors affecting access to high-quality abortion care. Combined with clear and accurate information, access to reasonably-priced, quality-assured products is an essential way to ensuring a safe and successful self-managed medical abortion.
Trial Data Sharing for the INFORM (Induction of Labour with Foley or Misoprostol) Study

The anonymized data of over 600 women who underwent induction of labor for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in two high-volume public hospitals in Nagpur, India are now available. Collected as part of a randomized trial conducted by the University of Liverpool, Gynuity Health Projects and the Government Medical College, Nagpur to compare two low-cost methods for labor induction (oral misoprostol and Foley catheter), the main dataset has more than 360 variables. They include monitoring during the induction of labor, medications administered, timing and mode of delivery, measures of neonatal morbidity and mortality, maternal mortality and morbidity, maternal satisfaction and health economic data. 
MOLI (Misoprostol or Oxytocin for Labour Induction) Study Update

The MOLI study, another research project with the University of Liverpool and GMC Nagpur, is progressing well. Launched in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic at three hospitals in India, this randomized trial compares use of oral misoprostol to intravenous oxytocin for induction of labor in women who experience hypertension during pregnancy and have undergone cervical preparation with oral misoprostol. We expect to complete the study next year.
RESOURCES
Launch of a New Website on Period Pills

A new website designed to help make access to and use of pills that bring on menses a reality in the U.S. has been launched. Also called “missed” or “late” period pills, Period Pills are medications an individual can take if their menstrual period is late and they suspect that they are pregnant when they don’t want to be. These medicines broaden options, enabling individuals to choose – if they so desire – to bring on a late period at home to ensure a state of non-pregnancy without needing to test for pregnancy first. Published results from a study by Gynuity Health Projects exploring potential interest in missed period pills showed that demand for such an option in the U.S. might be substantial and wide-ranging across demographic groups. We initiated clinical studies on possible regimens for missed menses. 
EVENTS
FIGO World Congress 2021 – Special Session on Induced Abortion: Pushing the Limits

Beverly Winikoff, Gynuity Health Projects’ president, shared a virtual platform with leading global experts in reproductive health at this year’s FIGO World Congress. The presentation by Gynuity Health Projects summarizes completed and ongoing implementation research in the U.S., United Kingdom and Mexico documenting the use of non-traditional medical abortion services (including “no-test” screening and telemedicine) that give abortion-seekers more agency and require less contact with the medical system. Registered congress attendees can download the Special Session (S070) from FIGO’s on-demand library, which remains open until December 31.

S070 Induced Abortion: Pushing the Limits

Chairs: Beverly Winikoff, USA and Caroline De Costa, Australia

Self-Managed and “No-Test” Abortion Beverly Winikoff, USA

Expanding the Provider Base to Increase Abortion Access Worldwide Bela Ganatra, Switzerland

Abortion from Very Early to Much Later Kristina Gemzell Danielsson, Sweden

The Continuing Relevance of Vacuum Aspiration in Induced Abortion Nozer Sheriar, India
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Resources section of our website is an accessible and credible source for information in support of high-quality reproductive and maternal health care. Be sure to check out our 2020 Annual Report.

Are you interested in talking with one of our experts? Email us at Comms@gynuity.org