Medication Abortion ASAP (MA-ASAP) is a pilot research study underway in Minnesota that is evaluating a streamlined way to provide medication abortion (abortion with pills) over the web.

George Floyd’s murder in May 2020 sparked racial justice protests across the United States and the world throughout the summer of 2020. Police used weapons against protestors, including chemical agents called “tear gas” which have been banned in war. These chemical agents were used even though we don’t know very much about how they impact reproductive health.

Some protesters talked about seeing changed in their reproductive health after being exposed to tear gas. After hearing people’s stories, we wanted to create a study to look at how tear gas impacts the reproductive health of people with uteri.

The goal of this study was to create a more convenient, patient-centered method of abortion where patients can obtain their medical abortion pills by mail (without needing an in person appointment at a Planned Parenthood health center). 

Planned Parenthood is seeking transgender, genderqueer, gender nonbinary, and gender nonconforming community members to share their feedback about their ideal reproductive and gender-specific health care experiences.

Planned Parenthood and University of Minnesota are teaming up to learn more about experiences with birth control among people of color, and trust and respect between communities of color and family planning clinics like Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood North Central States and University of Minnesota—Twin Cities are teaming up to learn more about experiences with vasectomy and thoughts on different birth control options. 

Evaluating use of mifepristone and two doses of misoprostol for medication abortion at 71-77 days (11 weeks) and 78-84 days (12 weeks) of pregnancy 

Evaluating same-day placement and emergency contraceptive use of the Mirena IUD.  
 

In clinic recruiting only

Evaluating the performance of the Xpert Xpress test that detects chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas in 30 minutes

Testing efficacy and side effects of a new non-hormonal IUD called VeraCept 

Following Nexplanon users in their 4th and 5th year of implant use to determine efficacy in pregnancy prevention, bleeding profile, and any other side effects 

Evaluating the performance of the cobas® Liat® system that detects chlamydia, gonorrhea, and Mycoplasma genitalium in 20 minutes 

Comparison of self-collected rectal and/or pharyngeal swabs to clinician-collected swabs from the same swab site to develop a mail-in STI testing service 

Patients who did not receive a pre-treatment ultrasound were surveyed at enrollment and 2 weeks later to evaluate the impact on patients, health center staff, and healthcare delivery of minimal contact during a medication abortion.

Collecting urine and vaginal swab samples to be used to evaluate new methods for detecting bacteria and viruses.