Reproductive Life Planning

Planned pregnancies are associated with increased healthy behaviors, improved reproductive health, and positive birth outcomes. Unplanned pregnancies are associated with increased risk for maternal and infant morbidity, child maltreatment, and increased poverty.  In North Carolina, 43% of all pregnancies are unplanned.1 Nationally, people with substance use disorders are at increased risk of having unplanned pregnancies.2,3
Research has shown that individuals are receptive to counseling focused on reproductive life planning and contraceptive use when it is offered as part of comprehensive, on-site, substance use disorder treatment.4,5 However, discomfort surrounding reproductive health topics, as well as a lack of knowledge of foundational concepts, including reproductive biology and effective contraceptive use, act as barriers to conversations that may support the development of a Reproductive Life Plan.
Reproductive Life Planning in Substance Use Disorder Services is a course that has been developed to support reproductive life planning conversations and referrals in substance use service settings. It includes reproductive life planning conversations with all genders.
This training course:
  • Examines the benefits of Reproductive Life Planning
  • Provides fact-based information on essential reproductive health topics including reproductive biology, sexually transmitted infections, effective contraceptive use, and preparing for a healthy pregnancy
  • Presents a framework that supports conversations with individuals receiving services for substance use disorders about reproductive health
  • Discusses access and availability of resources and services for Reproductive Life Planning health decisions
Register Here
References
1. Reduce the proportion of unintended pregnancies—FP‑01—Healthy People 2030 | health.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved May 3, 2023.
2. Shelton, D., Ramage, M., Hughes, P., & Tak, C. (2022). Factors associated with contraceptive use among postpartum women with substance use disorder. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 33, 100764.
3. MacAfee, L. K., Harfmann, R. F., Cannon, L. M., Kolenic, G., Kusunoki, Y., Terplan, M., & Dalton, V. K. (2020). Sexual and Reproductive Health Characteristics of Women in Substance Use Treatment in Michigan. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 135(2), 361.
4. Robinowitz, N., Muqueeth, S., Scheibler, J., Salisbury-Afshar, E., & Terplan, M. (2016). Family Planning in Substance Use Disorder Treatment Centers: Opportunities and Challenges. Substance Use & Misuse, 51(11), 1477–1483.
5. Rinehart, D. J., Stowell, M., Barrett, K., Langland, K., Thomas-Gale, T., Al-Tayyib, A., & O’Connell, R. (2023). Exploring Family Planning Perspectives Among Men Receiving Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: Implications for Service Development. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 17(1), 21–27.