CRRC Blog

We are inviting contributors from all research disciplines to share their work and reflections.

As we start our new financial year at BPAS, we take this opportunity to reflect on our collective achievements in 2024/25. It has been an exceptional year for the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication (CRRC), and we are proud of all we have accomplished.

Dr Patricia Lohr, Director of Research and Innovation at BPAS, shares insight into the recently launches BPAS Integrated Research and Innovation Strategy for 2025-2030.

Before joining BPAS, I developed an interest in audit and research, which grew during my time as a Telemedical Nurse/Midwife Practitioner (NMP) at BPAS and later as a Lead Nurse/Midwife (LNM). I have always been curious about how healthcare works, why things happen the way they do, and how to improve patient care and outcomes. I am Vice Chair of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Women’s Health Forum Committee, and as a group we work to identify and address gaps in women’s health. Existing research is often the foundation of these projects, but this work led to wanting to contribute to new research.

Our blog will share insight into new ideas and research that furthers access to evidence-based reproductive healthcare and choices – primarily in areas related to abortion, contraception, and STI testing.

Pain is often reported as one of the worst aspects of a medical abortion, but, as mentioned in a previous BPAS blog,  we don’t have the best evidence on how to manage it. Adequate counselling and accurate management of expectations have been identified as being linked to reduced anxiety during abortion and increased satisfaction with overall abortion experience.