Pharmacists Can Provide Support Around Anxieties for Reproductive Access

Nurx recently announced results from their survey, Reproductive Rights Watch: How Women are Responding to the Shifting Care Landscape, which asked women how they feel in today’s reproductive care environment. The findings displayed that many women are facing heightened anxiety about their reproductive rights, change behaviors in response to the care environment, and experience difficulties in the health care setting.^1,2

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Pharmacists can play an essential role in the reproductive care landscape as the first point of contact, ensuring women are aware of resources that are readily available to provide support.

“I think all of us working in health care should take into consideration that women might be more hesitant to ask questions about their health and be as empathetic as we can, given today’s reproductive care landscape,” Navya Mysore, MD, medical director of women’s health at Nurx, said in an interview with Pharmacy Times. “Anyone in health care who is part of the reproductive care team for the patient, which includes pharmacists, should ensure they are up to date on all contraception options as well as emergency contraception.”

The survey included over 1000 women, focusing on furthering the understanding among women’s feelings around their ability to make choices regarding their health. According to Nurx, the findings displayed that 54% of women surveyed are anxious about their reproductive and sexual freedoms as 49% of women reported to feel anxiety about accessing in-person care for their reproductive and sexual health.^1,2

"Women are feeling distressed—anxious about the political climate, their ability to access critical in-person care, and their reproductive care needs. Their concerns are impacting important, everyday decisions they are making about their health," Mysore said in a news release.¹

The survey also assessed how the current political environment is shaping women’s health care experiences along with the level of trust patients have with their health care provider. The results found that 38% of women surveyed are facing longer than usual wait times to see in-person reproductive and sexual health providers. Further results displayed that 25% of women reported to experience judgment or shame from their medical provider regarding their reproductive and sexual health concerns. However, 37% of women reported to use telehealth as an alternate form of care due to these apprehensions.²

Mysore said that telehealth appointments provide benefits for patients as they can access care from the comfort of their own home and can receive care without fear of judgement—especially if they live in a state that has restricted care in some way.

Mysore noted that the survey confirmed that the fears are having significant impact on how women are thinking about their access to care as 31% of women surveyed considered changes to where they work or live due to reproductive access. Additionally, the percentage of women who have considered changes was higher among women living in states where abortion is not protected, hostile, or illegal, with 34% in states where abortion is not protected and 24% in states were abortion is protected.²

“Asynchronous care can increase comfort for patients because they can access care at any time. There is also less pressure to ensure that they have thought of all of their health-related questions at once since they can take their time before responding to their asynchronous health care provider,” Mysore said.

The survey also found that 71% of women have made at least 1 health-related behavior change—including delaying preventative care visits (25%) and pursuing emergency contraception (20%).^1,2

"This data is a powerful reminder of why reproductive rights matter. Women are navigating a fraught health care environment—causing confusion and unease as they navigate an onslaught of misinformation and constant change," Caroline Hofmann, chief business officer at Nurx, said in a news release.¹

The survey highlights the need to address challenges women are experiencing when it comes to access for reproductive care.^1,2 Mysore noted that pharmacists can help speak to this need by ensuring they are up-to date on all contraception options and emergency contraception so they can answer specific medication-related questions from patients to help them feel even more confident about their choice.

“Pharmacists, like everyone in a patient’s health care team, should be able to refer patients to resources that can provide them with additional information about the different reproductive options that are available to them. In addition, when they are the first point of contact for a patient, it would be helpful if pharmacists had a list of local or virtual health care services, they can refer patients to as needed,” said Mysore.

References

1. Nurx Survey Reveals More than Half of Women Feel Anxious About Reproductive Access, Freedoms. PR Newswire. News release. July 25, 2024. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nurx-survey-reveals-more-than-half-of-women-feel-anxious-about-reproductive-access-freedoms-302197241.html.

2. Nurx Reproductive Rights Watch 2024 How Women are Responding to the Shifting Care Landscape. Nurx. News release. Accessed August 16, 2024. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.nurx.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Nurx-Reproductive-Rights-Watch-2024.pdf.