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Beyond the Pill promotes access and equity in contraceptive health care. We build the research foundation to transform clinical care and patients' lives worldwide.

The Beyond the Pill research program investigates policy-relevant questions about reproductive health. Through research, we aim to improve contraceptive care in the US and globally through changes in access, care, and policy. Our research focuses on underserved populations, including adolescents and people in low-resource settings, with the goal of reducing health disparities and enhancing reproductive autonomy. We are an interdisciplinary team of clinician-scientists and social scientists, working together to make a real-world impact.

Our research is guided by a commitment to:

  • Access: We experiment with new ways to improve access to the full spectrum of contraceptive options.
  • Autonomy: We believe in empowering patients to make informed and voluntary choices.
  • Equity: We are committed to reducing health disparities in the United States and globally.

Research Areas

Access to Contraception
We evaluate barriers to care and new approaches for improving access to contraception, especially for underserved populations, including adolescents and young adults.

Translational Research
We conduct translational research to bring evidence to the forefront of clinical practice and policy change and have helped to transform the provision of contraception in the US and globally.

Contraceptive Choice & Use
Our research on contraceptive knowledge, decision-making, use, and pregnancy outcomes informs efforts to promote contraceptive awareness, access, reproductive autonomy, and health equity.

Global Research
Our work in low-resource settings focuses on access to contraception, improved health outcomes, and the integration of new technologies and evidence into clinical practice.

Featured Research: National Trial on LARC Training

 
Infographic: Half as many family planning clients had unplanned pregnancies (15 to 8 out of 100 women)

Our research shows that comprehensive education and counseling about the full range of birth control options can dramatically reduce unintended pregnancies.

Published in The Lancet, our study demonstrates that our UCSF CME-accredited training curriculum for health care providers reduced the number of unintended pregnancies among teens and young women by almost half. The training also increased providers' counseling and patient's awareness of effective birth control options, including IUDs and implants, allowing them to make informed choices about contraception.