We connected with Dr. Jennifer Karlin, MD, PhD, founder of the Reproductive Health Hotline (ReproHH) and a faculty physician at UCSF’s Department of Family and Community Medicine and Aleza Summit, MPH, project manager of ReproHH, to talk about what the hotline is, who it’s built for, and how providers are using it in real clinical practice. Whether you’re managing a complex contraceptive case in a packed clinic session or supporting a patient who is navigating early pregnancy loss without ready access to specialty consultation, ReproHH offers something increasingly rare: a board-certified reproductive health expert physician on the other end of the line, ready to help.
For providers who haven’t heard of it yet, what is the Reproductive Health Hotline—and what gap in clinical care is it designed to fill?
Operated by UCSF’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, the Reproductive Health Hotline (ReproHH) is a free, confidential, on-demand phone service for U.S.-based health care providers. By calling 1-844-ReproHH (1-844-737-7644), clinicians can speak directly with a board-certified OB/GYN or family physician, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT / 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. With more than 90 years of combined clinical experience in sexual and reproductive health (SRH), our team provides real-time guidance on all SRH topics including contraception, prenatal care, menopause, early pregnancy loss including abortion, STIs, pain management during gynecologic procedures, and more.
We created ReproHH to help close critical gaps in care shaped by rising maternal mortality, reproductive health deserts, and growing uncertainty after Dobbs. Many primary care clinicians already have the foundation to manage reproductive health concerns; our role is to strengthen their confidence and clinical capacity so patients can get timely care where they already receive it, without added delays, costs, or referrals.
Who is ReproHH designed for, and what types of questions is it best suited to answer?
ReproHH is for health care providers across the U.S., especially primary care clinicians and others without ready access to specialty consultation. That includes clinicians in rural communities, underserved settings, and resource-limited practices. We regularly support physicians, nurse practitioners, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, midwives, and others. We also provide information to community-based professionals such as doulas, sex educators, and patient advocates.
Questions span the full range of sexual and reproductive health, including contraception, pregnancy and prenatal care, abortion, early pregnancy loss, STIs, abnormal uterine bleeding, vaginitis, and menopause. Most calls involve a specific patient scenario, but we also advise on practice integration, such as building a pain-management protocol for IUD insertions or incorporating mifepristone for early pregnancy loss into clinic workflow.
Are there any types of questions that aren’t appropriate for ReproHH?
We do not provide legal advice, direct patient care, or referrals for individual patients. The hotline is designed for clinicians and community-based professionals seeking clinical guidance.
How is ReproHH staffed?
Whenever the hotline is open, a board-certified family physician or OB/GYN with deep expertise in sexual and reproductive health is available to take calls. After a brief recorded message, callers speak with a triage coordinator who gathers a few key details and connects them to the clinician on call.
What are some common types of questions you’re receiving right now on ReproHH?
One notable trend is the number of calls we receive about syphilis. Given rising case rates, reduced public health support in many areas, and the infection’s clinical complexity, that increase is not surprising. We also hear frequently about contraception and vaginal bleeding, particularly in adolescents and in perimenopausal patients, as well as recurrent vaginitis. Another common topic is medication abortion, especially questions about practice integration into primary care, drug interactions, and aftercare.
Walk us through how a provider might use ReproHH during a busy clinic day. What would you say to someone who’s unsure whether their question is “too basic”?
A clinician might call when a familiar treatment approach is not working, such as recurrent bacterial vaginosis that has not responded as expected. Or they may need quick guidance on whether a contraceptive method is appropriate for a patient with a complex medical history that is not clearly addressed in the U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria. Those are exactly the kinds of questions ReproHH is built for. No question is too basic or too complex. Some callers worry they are asking something they should already know, but every clinician encounters new situations and benefits from a second opinion. Others face unusual cases in the middle of a packed clinic session and do not have time to dig through the literature. In those moments, we can help with immediate clinical guidance and, when needed, follow up with a summary of the evidence by email.
You can reach the Reproductive Health Hotline at 1-844-ReproHH (1-844-737-7644), between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT / 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. We look forward to hearing from you!