Section of Family Planning & Contraception
Family planning specialists are devoted to providing specialized reproductive healthcare. Experts advocate and apply evidence-based practices to patient care and provide comprehensive care, including complex contraception consultation, laparoscopic and hysteroscopic sterilization procedures and pregnancy termination in the first and second trimesters. Faculty contribute regularly to scholarly publications and participate in clinical and basic science research.
About Our Work
Education
Students, residents and fellows learn from leaders of many of the nation’s premier family planning societies, including the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, the Society of Family Planning and the National Abortion Federation. Six- to eight-week rotations offer students the chance to train alongside fellows and faculty in clinics, inpatient care and didactic sessions. Additionally, the division offers the specialized Kenneth J. Ryan Residency Training Program, consistent with ACGME program requirements, to optimize family planning and contraceptive training. Third-year residents also participate in a joint rotation with the Division of Clinical Genetics during which they gain experience in complex contraception, genetic counseling and abortion care and surgical sterilization procedures. A two-year family planning fellowship provides further training for physician-leaders in research, education and clinical practice related to all aspects of contraception and abortion care.
Research
Faculty, fellows and staff members in the Section of Family Planning & Contraception conduct a wide variety of clinical and basic science research projects. The diverse research topics include effectiveness and side effects of contraception, surgical techniques, reproductive health issues in public health and development of new types of contraception. Faculty and fellows author peer-reviewed articles on various family planning topics and regularly present research at national meetings.
In addition, faculty and fellows are actively engaged in international work in geographic locations such as China, Africa and Southeast Asia. The broad scope of the international activities includes programmatic development, policy and research.
Patient Care
Family planning faculty from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine attend patients at the Northwestern Center for Family Planning & Contraception, the key training site for the Ryan Residency Training Program in Family Planning and Postdoctoral Fellowship in Family Planning to offer a variety of clinical services, including counseling for pregnancy, miscarriage and partner closely with patients and referring physicians to provide options when intolerance or medical conditions make contraception a challenge.
