Society of Family Planning

Society of Family Planning
AbbreviationSFP
Formation2005
President
Angela Dempsey
President-Elect
Sadia Haider
Websitesocietyfp.org

The Society of Family Planning (SFP) is an international non-profit[1] professional organization established in 2005 specializing in "abortion and contraception science"[2][3] composed of physicians, nurses, sociologists, public health practitioners and trainees in these fields.[4] The majority of member physicians include specialists of obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, and adolescent medicine.[4]

The organization sponsors the Society of Family Planning Research Fund that provides grants for research in abortion and contraception.[4] This funding source was established in 2011. The Society of Family Planning supports the Fellowship in Complex Family Planning, previously known as the Fellowship in Family Planning. The fellowship is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), member of the American Board of Medical Specialties, as a subspecialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology.[5]

Background

The Society of Family Planning was created in 2005 by 18 founding members and 33 charter members, initially focusing on grant support for rigorous family planning research.[4][6] Membership has expanded to almost 800 members as of 2017.[4] As of 2020, the scope of the organization includes education based on clinical guidelines, research and grants, and advocacy through clinical guidelines and research.[4][7][8] The organization holds an annual meeting called the North American Forum on Family Planning (the Forum).[9]

There are three categories of membership: Fellow, Junior Fellow, and Affiliate Fellow.[10] In order to apply for membership, a potential applicant must be referred by a current member.[11] Members connect to the Society and collaborate with each other through Society of Family Planning Connect.[12]

Contraception published by Elsevier is the official SFP medical journal.[13] As of 2019, the journal has an Impact Factor of 2.819.

Governance and committees

The Society of Family Planning is managed by staff members including an Executive Director and an elected Board of Directors.[2] The organization is also made up of Committees, Subcommittees and Working Groups including the Executive, Governance, and Finance Committees; Complex Family Planning Council; Annual Meeting, Clinical Affairs and Research Affairs Subcommittees; Abortion Clinical Research Network Working Group; and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group.[2]

Research and grants

The Society of Family Planning was originally created to provide grant support for family planning research. While the Society's scope has expanded, it has continued to provide significant research support, funding over $2.6 million dollars in grants in 2019.[14] After an analysis of the impact of a decade of grantmaking,[15][8] the Society of Family Planning Research Fund transitioned to funding targeted grant opportunities, published in the spring and awarded in the fall. SFP also supports the Abortion Clinical Research Network, a multi-site research network including independent clinics, Planned Parenthood affiliates, academic practices, patients, and researchers.[16][8]

Fellowship in Complex Family Planning

The Fellowship in Complex Family Planning (CFP) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education as a two-year fellowship after completing specialty training in obstetrics and gynecology.[17][5][18] The fellowship focuses on further clinical training and research on complex abortion and contraception. SFP's Complex Family Planning Council partners with ABOG to provide programmatic oversight of the fellowship.[19] Many academic institutions offer this fellowship training including Columbia University;[20] Johns Hopkins University;[21] University of California, Davis;[22] University of Michigan;[23] University of Southern California;[24] and Yale University.[25][18]

Legislative advocacy

Together with other medical and reproductive health organizations, the Society of Family Planning filed amicus briefs in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby,[26][27] later Burwell v. Hobby Lobby,[28] to support increased access to the full range of contraceptive methods approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. In her dissenting opinion, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg highlighted the importance of contraception to women in whom pregnancy may pose life-threatening risk and non-contraceptive benefits including cancer prevention and treatment of menstrual disorders and pelvic pain.[28]

The American Civil Liberties Union filed Chelius v. Wright on behalf of Dr. Graham Chelius, the Society of Family Planning, and other organizations against the restricted access to medical abortion.[29][30]

The Society of Family Planning joined other medical organizations in the amicus brief ACOG v. US Food and Drug Administration against the in-person dispensing requirement of mifepristone in medical abortion.[31][32][33]

Collaborations

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and Society of Family Planning jointly developed clinical guidance on medical abortion up to 70 days' gestation.[34] SFP endorsed ACOG's Practice Guideline on second-trimester abortion.[35]

After a workshop entitled "Reproductive Services for Women at High Risk for Maternal Mortality", ACOG, SFP, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), and the Fellowship in Family Planning, now known as the Fellowship in Complex Family Planning,[17] issued an executive summary[36] and consensus statement[37] regarding assessment, counseling, and training on reproductive health services for women at high risk for maternal morbidity and mortality.[38][39] To promote development of evidence-based guidelines for reproductive health services associated with high-risk pregnancies, SFP and SMFM are partnering to offer the SMFM and SFP Bridge Builder Award for research funding.[40] SMFM refers to SFP guidance on contraceptive provision when there is restricted healthcare access during the COVID-19 pandemic.[41][42]

The Society of Family Planning released a statement to preserve timely access to abortion services during the COVID-19 pandemic, in collaboration with ACOG, ABOG, American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Society for Academic Specialists in General Obstetrics and Gynecology, and SMFM.[43]

References

  1. ^ "Bloomberg company profile: SFP". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  2. ^ a b c "Society of Family Planning About Us". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  3. ^ Koerth, Maggie (2022-10-30). "Overturning Roe Has Meant At Least 10,000 Fewer Legal Abortions". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Society of Family Planning Strategic Plan". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  5. ^ a b "ABOG OB/Gyn subspecialties". Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  6. ^ Darney, Philip; Creinin, Mitchell D.; Nichols, Mark; Gilliam, Melissa; Westhoff, Carolyn L. (2015-01-10). "Tenth anniversary of the Society of Family Planning". Contraception. 92 (4): 279–281. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2015.08.005. ISSN 0010-7824. PMID 26272310.
  7. ^ Espey, Eve; Dennis, Amanda; Landy, Uta (January 2019). "The importance of access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion: a statement from women's health professional organizations". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 220 (1): 67–70. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2018.09.008. ISSN 0002-9378. PMID 30267653. S2CID 52893193.
  8. ^ a b c Dennis, Amanda; Manski, Ruth; O'Donnell, Jenny (April 2020). "Assessing research impact: A framework and an evaluation of the Society of Family Planning Research Fund's grantmaking (2007–2017)". Contraception. 101 (4): 213–219. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2019.11.007. ISSN 0010-7824. PMID 31857077.
  9. ^ "North American Forum on Family Planning". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  10. ^ "Society of Family Planning membership". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  11. ^ "Society of Family Planning application for membership". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  12. ^ "Society of Family Planning Connect". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  13. ^ "Contraception journal". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  14. ^ "2019 Annual Report" (PDF). Society of Family Planning. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  15. ^ Bruce, L 2012. "Filling a Funding Gap: An Impact Evaluation of the Society of Family Planning," MPH Thesis, Drexel University, Philadelphia.
  16. ^ "Abortion Clinical Research Network". Society of Family Planning. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Ob/Gyn Board Seeks New Family Planning Subspecialty". 22 June 2018. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  18. ^ a b "Fellowship in Complex Family Planning". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  19. ^ "Society of Family Planning Committees, Subcommittees and Working Groups". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  20. ^ "Columbia University CFP Fellowship". 6 June 2017. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  21. ^ "Johns Hopkins University CFP Fellowship". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  22. ^ "UC Davis CFP Fellowship". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  23. ^ "University of Michigan CFP Fellowship". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  24. ^ "USC CFP Fellowship". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  25. ^ "Yale University CFP Fellowship". Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  26. ^ "Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Nos. 13-354 and 13-356" (PDF). 2014-01-28. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  27. ^ "Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby No. 13-354" (PDF). 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  28. ^ a b "Burwell v. Hobby Lobby" (PDF). October 2013. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  29. ^ "ACLU Press Release: Chelius v Wright". Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  30. ^ "Abortion access -- we have the answer". Medium. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  31. ^ "SFP News and Updates". 5 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  32. ^ "ACOG News Release: ACOG v. FDA". Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  33. ^ McCammon, Sarah (27 May 2020). "NPR: ACOG v. FDA". NPR. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  34. ^ Practice Bulletins—Gynecology, the Society of Family Planning (2020). "Medication Abortion up to 70 Days of Gestation". Contraception. 102 (4): 225–236. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2020.08.004. ISSN 0010-7824. PMID 32807380.
  35. ^ "ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 135: Second-trimester abortion". Obstetrics and Gynecology. 121 (6): 1394–1406. June 2013. doi:10.1097/01.AOG.0000431056.79334.cc. ISSN 1873-233X. PMID 23812485. S2CID 205384119.
  36. ^ Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) (2019). "Executive summary: Reproductive Services for Women at High Risk for Maternal Mortality Workshop, February 11–12, 2019, Las Vegas, Nevada". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 221 (4): B2–B5. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2019.06.032. ISSN 0002-9378. PMID 31226292.
  37. ^ Blackwell, Sean; Louis, Judette M.; Norton, Mary E.; Lappen, Justin R.; Pettker, Christian M.; Kaimal, Anjali; Landy, Uta; Edelman, Alison; Teal, Stephanie; Landis, Roxanne (April 2020). "Reproductive services for women at high risk for maternal mortality: a report of the workshop of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Fellowship in Family Planning, and the Society of Family Planning". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 222 (4): B2–B18. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2019.12.008. ISSN 0002-9378. PMID 32252942. S2CID 215407612.
  38. ^ "SMFM Publications and Guidelines: Reproductive services for women at high risk for maternal mortality—a report of the workshop". Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  39. ^ "SMFM Publications and Guidelines: Executive Summary of Reproductive Services for Women at High Risk for Maternal Mortality". Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  40. ^ "SMFM and SFP Bridge Builder Awards". 24 January 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  41. ^ "SMFM COVID-19 Partner Resources". Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  42. ^ "Updated interim recommendations for contraceptive provision". Society of Family Planning. 2020-05-29. doi:10.46621/uygr2287. S2CID 241531598. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  43. ^ "Cochrane Fertility Regulation News And Events: COVID-19". Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  • Contraception journal: an international reproductive health journal