Family Planning Research

Specialists in the Division of Family Planning focus on research in contraception, including contraceptive counseling, contraceptive selection and use, and strategies to prevent unintended pregnancy. Our faculty have received funding from multiple organizations including the National Institutes of Medicine (NIH) and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), published numerous research studies in peer-reviewed medical journals, and made significant contributions to science in the field of family planning.

Our specialists are actively recruiting for multiple studies in the Division of Clinical Research. Washington University is also the home of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, a previous landmark study of over 9,000 women provided with no-cost contraception which showed significant reductions in unintended pregnancy.

Explore our research

Clinical research:
Clinical studies in family planning

Patient clinic:
Contraceptive Choice Center (C3)

Previous landmark studies:
Contraceptive Choice Project (closed)

A study at Washington University in St. Louis provided teens access to no-cost contraception and education about the effectiveness of long-acting birth control methods. Most chose long-acting birth control: 72% Long-acting Intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants; 28% Other, birth control pills, patches, etc — One finding of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project was that teenage girls and women provided contraception at no cost and educated about reversible contraception and the benefits of LARC methods had rates of pregnancy, birth, and abortion that were much lower than the national average.
See full graphic » | Read study in the New England Journal of Medicine »