The U.S. organization, carafem, is one of the latest providers to introduce ‘period pills’ to its online range of telehealth care. Formally promoted in some countries as a method of fertility control and sometimes referred to as ‘menstrual regulation’, this approach uses a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol to treat delayed menses without a prior pregnancy confirmation. In 2019, Gynuity established a working group on period pills in the U.S. to build support for the concept, which is another way to foster self-care and expand options. Our research confirmed that demand would likely be substantial and have wide appeal. 

A study in Ecuador evaluating the feasibility of medication abortion services via telemedicine using misoprostol alone has ended prematurely due to funding cuts that closed Planned Parenthood Global, the international arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and one of our partners in this project. These and similar cuts in funding disrupt the delivery of essential services and raise concerns regarding the future of reproductive health research.

Guidelines released in October by global health agencies* now also recommend diagnosing and triggering treatment for PPH, the leading cause of maternal deaths, when measured blood loss reaches 300 mL and any abnormal signs in pulse rate, blood pressure and shock index have been observed. 

The new recommendation is particularly useful for low-resource settings, where delays are more likely to result in deaths, and is supported by the findings from the largest study (Gallos 2025) on this topic to date. The study by the World Health Organization and colleagues analyzed individual participant data of over 300,000 women from 12 datasets, including datasets associated with two studies (Mobeen 2011; Durocher 2019) contributed by Gynuity. Their meta-analysis found that measured blood loss below the conventional threshold of 500 mL (i.e. 300 mL or more), when combined with abnormal hemodynamic signs, accurately predicts women at risk of death or severe complications from excessive bleeding after childbirth.



*World Health Organization, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and International Confederation of Midwives.

Prognostic Accuracy of Clinical Markers of Postpartum Bleeding in Predicting Maternal Mortality or Severe Morbidity: A WHO Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis Gallos I, Williams CR, Price MJ, Tobias A, Devall A, Allotey J, Althabe F, Cresswell JA, Durocher J, Gülmezoglu AM, Haslinger C, Pacagnella RC, Sentilhes L, Sobhy S, Yunas I, Deeks JJ, Coomarasamy A, Oladapo OT. The Lancet 2025. 

In October, Beverly Winikoff was presented with a Special Award of Recognition by the Georgian Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health for her significant contributions to improving safe abortion access in the Republic of Georgia. This accolade is awarded infrequently by the Society and is reserved for individuals whose work has had a real transformative effect. We are delighted by this gesture from our colleagues in Tbilisi.

Gynuity conducts pioneering research on medication abortion, contraception and obstetric complications and promotes evidence-based policies and practices that enhance access to care. If you believe knowledge can lead to meaningful change, please support Gynuity.

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