University of California at San Francisco

This grant would continue support for the LARC project at UCSF's Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health to reduce unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion in the United States by increasing the use of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and the contraceptive implant, Implanon. Their use is much lower in the United States than in Europe, largely because many physicians lack up-to-date knowledge and training about IUDs and their insertion. This project aims to close this gap by training large numbers of family planning practitioners through networks such as Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Federation and providing them with updated information on IUDs and Implanon. The project achieved several successes in its first three years, including publications in both academic and popular media to counter myths about IUDs. Training efforts with physicians complement investments by the Foundation and other donors to address cost barriers and reach out directly to potential IUD clients. Although it is too soon to see a direct impact on the national use of IUDs from this project, the percentage of U.S. women using IUDs has already begun to rise.