Helping women with substance use disorders make better contraceptive choices after childbirth
Official title: Improving Postpartum Contraceptive Decision-Making Among Women With Substance Use Disorders
Funded at Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation · NIH-11067737 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help new moms with substance use disorders make better choices about birth control after having a baby by testing a helpful tool called MyPath, which aims to reduce unexpected pregnancies and support women in using effective contraceptive methods.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $623,229 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA051674-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11067737 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are postpartum women who have been diagnosed with substance use disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not postpartum or do not have substance use disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving contraceptive decision-making among postpartum women who have substance use disorders (SUDs). It aims to address the high rates of unintended pregnancies in this population by testing a new decision support tool called MyPath. This tool is designed to help women choose and continue using effective contraceptive methods after giving birth. The study will involve a randomized controlled trial with 350 participants to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in reducing unintended pregnancies and improving contraceptive use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the number of unintended pregnancies among women with substance use disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using decision support tools for reproductive health, but this specific approach targeting women with SUDs is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Krans, Elizabeth E — Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation
- Study coordinator: Krans, Elizabeth E
Related research
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Improving contraception decisions for women with substance use disorders after childbirth
A patient-centered decision tool called MyPath aims to help postpartum women with substance use disorders choose and keep effective contraception after giving birth.
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.