Jennifer Kerns, MD, MS, MPH
Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinical Research, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
Dr. Kerns is a clinical researcher with a focus on patient decision-making in complicated pregnancies.
Areas of interest:
- Abortion for fetal anomalies and pregnancy complications
- Abortion safety
Education:
- University of California, San Francisco, Medical Doctorate and Fellowship in Family Planning
- University of California, Berkeley, Master's of Science and Master's in Public Health
- Columbia University, Residency Training
In the news:
- What is a life-saving abortion? States argue post-Roe | Popular Science
- Abortion foes downplay complex post-Roe v. Wade realities | AP
- Dobbs ruling scrambles abortion training | Washington Post
- Abortion restrictions could cause an ob-gyn brain drain | Scientific American
- In post-Roe US, abortion providers seek licenses across state lines | Reuters
- The consequences of losing Roe v. Wade | It's Been a Minute
- Abortion providers expected that Roe v. Wade could be overturned. But the leaked draft made it real | The 19th
- What doctors want you to know about abortion right now | HuffPost
- 'Fetal heartbeat' isn't a clinical term—but it's still used in laws on abortion | NPR
- Fact check: Texas abortion law doesn't give full 6 weeks to get an abortion | CNN
- What is a 'fetal heartbeat'? As Louisiana passes latest anti-abortion law, doctors say term is a misnomer | Newsweek
- 'Heartbeat' bills get the science of fetal heartbeats all wrong | WIRED
- Embryos don't have hearts | The Cut
- Transgender patients face challenges in health care | San Francisco Chronicle
- Transgender men who become pregnant face social, health challenges | NPR
- Study: Yes, trans men can get pregnant despite testosterone, dysphoria | The Advocate
Publications:
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Abortion Stigma and Its Relationship with Grief, Post-traumatic Stress, and Mental Health-Related Quality of Life After Abortion for Fetal Anomalies. Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2022; 3(1):385-394. Kerns J, Cheeks M, Cassidy A, Pearlson G, Mengesha B. PMID: 35415714; PMCID: PMC8994429.View in: PubMed Mentions:
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Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccination Likelihood Among Reproductive-Aged Women in the United States. Public Health Rep. 2022 May-Jun; 137(3):588-596. Gutierrez S, Logan R, Marshall C, Kerns J, Diamond-Smith N. PMID: 35238243; PMCID: PMC9109534.
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COVID-19's impact on contraception experiences: Exacerbation of structural inequities in women's health. Contraception. 2021 12; 104(6):600-605. Diamond-Smith N, Logan R, Marshall C, Corbetta-Rastelli C, Gutierrez S, Adler A, Kerns J. PMID: 34461136; PMCID: PMC8570759.
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Miscarriage Treatment-Related Morbidities and Adverse Events in Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, and Office-Based Settings. J Patient Saf. 2020 12; 16(4):e317-e323. Roberts SCM, Beam N, Liu G, Upadhyay UD, Leslie DL, Ba D, Kerns JL. PMID: 30516583; PMCID: PMC7678655.
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A randomized controlled trial of methylergonovine prophylaxis after dilation and evacuation abortion. Contraception. 2021 02; 103(2):116-120. Kerns JL, Pearlson G, Mengesha B, Harter K, Jackson RA, Drey EA. PMID: 33075332.
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Society of Family Planning clinical recommendations: Contraceptive counseling for transgender and gender diverse people who were female sex assigned at birth. Contraception. 2020 08; 102(2):70-82. Bonnington A, Dianat S, Kerns J, Hastings J, Hawkins M, De Haan G, Obedin-Maliver J. PMID: 32304766.
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"A Résumé for the Baby": Biosocial Precarity and Care of Substance-Using, Pregnant Women in San Francisco. Cult Med Psychiatry. 2020 Mar; 44(1):35-55. Premkumar A, Kerns J, Huchko MJ. PMID: 31055757.
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Second-trimester abortion attitudes and practices among maternal-fetal medicine and family planning subspecialists. BMC Womens Health. 2020 02 03; 20(1):20. Kerns JL, Turk JK, Corbetta-Rastelli CM, Rosenstein MG, Caughey AB, Steinauer JE. PMID: 32013926; PMCID: PMC6998287.
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Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Hemorrhage After Dilation and Evacuation Abortion for Fetal Death. Obstet Gynecol. 2019 10; 134(4):708-713. Kerns JL, Ti A, Aksel S, Lederle L, Sokoloff A, Steinauer J. PMID: 31503145.
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How does Fetal Autopsy after Pregnancy Loss or Termination for Anomalies and other Complications Change Recurrence Risk? AJP Rep. 2019 Jan; 9(1):e30-e35. Cassidy A, Herrick C, Norton ME, Ursell PC, Vargas J, Kerns JL. PMID: 30783547; PMCID: PMC6379179.
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Association of Facility Type With Procedural-Related Morbidities and Adverse Events Among Patients Undergoing Induced Abortions. JAMA. 2018 06 26; 319(24):2497-2506. Roberts SCM, Upadhyay UD, Liu G, Kerns JL, Ba D, Beam N, Leslie DL. PMID: 29946727; PMCID: PMC6583042.
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Decision satisfaction among women choosing a method of pregnancy termination in the setting of fetal anomalies and other pregnancy complications: A qualitative study. Patient Educ Couns. 2018 10; 101(10):1859-1864. Kerns JL, Light A, Dalton V, McNamara B, Steinauer J, Kuppermann M. PMID: 29980336.
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Effects of Legislation Regulating Abortion in Arizona. Womens Health Issues. 2018 Jul - Aug; 28(4):297-300. Williams SG, Roberts S, Kerns JL. PMID: 29631976.
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A qualitative study of digoxin injection before dilation and evacuation. Contraception. 2018 06; 97(6):515-519. McNamara B, Russo J, Chaiken S, Jacobson J, Kerns J. PMID: 29477630.
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Effect of counseling quality on anxiety, grief, and coping after second-trimester abortion for pregnancy complications. Contraception. 2018 06; 97(6):520-523. Kerns JL, Mengesha B, McNamara BC, Cassidy A, Pearlson G, Kuppermann M. PMID: 29477632.
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Estimated versus measured blood loss during dilation and evacuation: an observational study. Contraception. 2018 05; 97(5):451-455. Serapio ET, Pearlson GA, Drey EA, Kerns JL. PMID: 29410259.
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The Experience of Genetic Counselors Working with Patients Facing the Decision of Pregnancy Termination after 24 Weeks Gestation. J Genet Couns. 2018 06; 27(3):626-634. Graziani RNA, Nemzer L, Kerns J. PMID: 28956221.
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Distance Traveled for an Abortion and Source of Care After Abortion. Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Sep; 130(3):616-624. Upadhyay UD, Johns NE, Meckstroth KR, Kerns JL. PMID: 28816736.
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Correlation of Prenatal Diagnosis and Pathology Findings Following Dilation and Evacuation for Fetal Anomalies. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2017 Feb; 141(2):267-273. Boecking CA, Drey EA, Kerns JL, Finkbeiner WE. PMID: 27763778.
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Medication Errors Despite Using Electronic Health Records: The Value of a Clinical Pharmacist Service in Reducing Discharge-Related Medication Errors. Qual Manag Health Care. 2016 Jan-Mar; 25(1):32-7. Alex S, Adenew AB, Arundel C, Maron DD, Kerns JC. PMID: 26783865.
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Obesity as a Risk Factor for Complications After Second-Trimester Abortion by Dilation and Evacuation. Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Sep; 126(3):585-592. Lederle L, Steinauer JE, Montgomery A, Aksel S, Drey EA, Kerns JL. PMID: 26244536; PMCID: PMC4545380.
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Induction of fetal demise before pregnancy termination: practices of family planning providers. Contraception. 2015 Sep; 92(3):241-5. Denny CC, Baron MB, Lederle L, Drey EA, Kerns JL. PMID: 25998938; PMCID: PMC4540638.
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Thiamin deficiency in people with obesity. Adv Nutr. 2015 Mar; 6(2):147-53. Kerns JC, Arundel C, Chawla LS. PMID: 25770253; PMCID: PMC4352173.
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Grief after second-trimester termination for fetal anomaly: a qualitative study. Contraception. 2015 Mar; 91(3):234-9. Maguire M, Light A, Kuppermann M, Dalton VK, Steinauer JE, Kerns JL. PMID: 25499590; PMCID: PMC4406975.
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Reproductive and gynecologic health after uterine artery embolization for postabortion hemorrhage. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2015 Apr; 129(1):85-6. Rowen TS, Steinauer J, Drey EA, Light A, Conrad M, Kerns JL. PMID: 25497049.
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Transgender men who experienced pregnancy after female-to-male gender transitioning. Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Dec; 124(6):1120-1127. Light AD, Obedin-Maliver J, Sevelius JM, Kerns JL. PMID: 25415163.
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Dilation and evacuation training in maternal-fetal medicine fellowships. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Jun; 210(6):569.e1-5. Rosenstein MG, Turk JK, Caughey AB, Steinauer JE, Kerns JL. PMID: 24495668; PMCID: PMC4207263.
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Barriers to D&E practice among family planning subspecialists. Contraception. 2013 Oct; 88(4):561-7. Turk JK, Steinauer JE, Landy U, Kerns JL. PMID: 23746751.
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Maternal-fetal medicine subspecialists' provision of second-trimester termination services. Am J Perinatol. 2012 Oct; 29(9):709-16. Kerns JL, Steinauer JE, Rosenstein MG, Turk JK, Caughey AB, D'Alton M. PMID: 22639351.
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Women's decision making regarding choice of second trimester termination method for pregnancy complications. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2012 Mar; 116(3):244-8. Kerns J, Vanjani R, Freedman L, Meckstroth K, Drey EA, Steinauer J. PMID: 22169044.
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Managing chlamydia infections in young men: results from an audit of a public men's clinic in New York City. Int J STD AIDS. 2011 Oct; 22(10):581-4. Jones HE, Pressman EJ, Bell DL, Kerns JL, Lykes ST, Garth J, Westhoff CL. PMID: 21998179.
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Implementation of expedited partner therapy among women with chlamydia infection at an urban family planning clinic. Sex Transm Dis. 2011 Aug; 38(8):722-6. Kerns JL, Jones HE, Pressman EJ, Fratarelli LA, Garth J, Westhoff CL. PMID: 21844724.
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Characteristics of women who undergo second-trimester abortion in the setting of a fetal anomaly. Contraception. 2012 Jan; 85(1):63-8. Kerns JL, Swanson M, Pena S, Wu D, Shaffer BL, Tran SH, Steinauer JE. PMID: 22067803.
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Vaginal ring contraception. Contraception. 2011 Feb; 83(2):107-15. Kerns J, Darney P. PMID: 21237335.
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Oral contraceptives: side effects and depression in adolescent girls. Contraception. 2007 Apr; 75(4):299-304. O'Connell K, Davis AR, Kerns J. PMID: 17362710.
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Partner influence on early discontinuation of the pill in a predominantly Hispanic population. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2003 Nov-Dec; 35(6):256-60. Kerns J, Westhoff C, Morroni C, Murphy PA. PMID: 14744657.
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Bleeding patterns after immediate vs. conventional oral contraceptive initiation: a randomized, controlled trial. Fertil Steril. 2003 Feb; 79(2):322-9. Westhoff C, Morroni C, Kerns J, Murphy PA. PMID: 12568841.
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Quick start: novel oral contraceptive initiation method. Contraception. 2002 Sep; 66(3):141-5. Westhoff C, Kerns J, Morroni C, Cushman LF, Tiezzi L, Murphy PA. PMID: 12384200.