M. Antonia Biggs, PhD

Associate Researcher, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences​
Senior Researcher, Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH)

Dr. Biggs’ research is dedicated towards better understanding the barriers faced by economically disadvantaged populations in accessing reproductive health services so that policy can be designed to improve their social and health outcomes. Currently, Dr. Biggs is directing a contraceptive training program aimed at increasing delivery of contraceptive care in primary care settings. She is also co-leading an investigation looking at the impact of parental notification laws on minors’ access to abortion services. Dr. Biggs is a researcher for the Turnaway study (primary investigator: Diana Greene Foster), a nationwide longitudinal prospective study of the health and well-being of women who seek abortions, where she is focusing on women’s mental health outcomes post-abortion seeking. Building on her previous work looking at the reasons women engage in unprotected intercourse, Dr. Biggs is launching a new study looking at the reasons adolescent and adult women forgo contraception and engage in unprotected intercourse.

 

Areas of interest:

  • Delivery of long-acting contraceptive services in primary care settings
  • Mental health outcomes of women having abortions
  • Impact of parental notification laws on minors’ access to abortion services
  • Reasons adolescent and adult women forgo contraception and engage in unprotected intercourse

 

Education:

  • University of Wisconsin, Bachelor's Degree in Psychology
  • Boston University, Master's and Doctoral Degrees n Psychology 

 

In the news:

Publications: 
  1. Provider Practices and Young Women's Experiences with Provider Self-disclosure during Emergency Contraceptive Visits. Womens Health Issues. 2020 Jul - Aug; 30(4):277-282. Cheeks M, Kaller S, Mays A, Biggs MA. PMID: 32507617.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  2. Medical and midwifery students' views on the use of conscientious objection in abortion care, following legal reform in Chile: a cross-sectional study. BMC Med Ethics. 2020 May 24; 21(1):42. Biggs MA, Casas L, Ramm A, Baba CF, Correa SP. PMID: 32448300.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
  3. Perceived abortion stigma and psychological well-being over five years after receiving or being denied an abortion. PLoS One. 2020; 15(1):e0226417. Biggs MA, Brown K, Foster DG. PMID: 31995559.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  4. Future health providers' willingness to provide abortion services following decriminalisation of abortion in Chile: a cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open. 2019 10 30; 9(10):e030797. Biggs MA, Casas L, Ramm A, Baba CF, Correa SV, Grossman D. PMID: 31666266.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    
  5. Support for and interest in alternative models of medication abortion provision among a national probability sample of U.S. women. Contraception. 2019 02; 99(2):118-124. Biggs MA, Ralph L, Raifman S, Foster DG, Grossman D. PMID: 30448203.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  6. Comparison of Health, Development, Maternal Bonding, and Poverty Among Children Born After Denial of Abortion vs After Pregnancies Subsequent to an Abortion. JAMA Pediatr. 2018 11 01; 172(11):1053-1060. Foster DG, Biggs MA, Raifman S, Gipson J, Kimport K, Rocca CH. PMID: 30193363.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  7. Effects of Carrying an Unwanted Pregnancy to Term on Women's Existing Children. J Pediatr. 2019 02; 205:183-189.e1. Foster DG, Raifman SE, Gipson JD, Rocca CH, Biggs MA. PMID: 30389101.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  8. Young Women's Perspectives About the Contraceptive Counseling Received During Their Emergency Contraception Visit. Womens Health Issues. 2019 Mar - Apr; 29(2):170-175. Biggs MA, Kimport K, Mays A, Kaller S, Berglas NF. PMID: 30890252.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
  9. Five-Year Suicidal Ideation Trajectories Among Women Receiving or Being Denied an Abortion. Am J Psychiatry. 2018 09 01; 175(9):845-852. Biggs MA, Gould H, Barar RE, Foster DG. PMID: 29792049.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  10. Do School-Based Programs Prevent HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections in Adolescents? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Prev Sci. 2018 05; 19(4):490-506. Mirzazadeh A, Biggs MA, Viitanen A, Horvath H, Wang LY, Dunville R, Barrios LC, Kahn JG, Marseille E. PMID: 28786046.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  11. Effectiveness of School-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programs in the USA: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Prev Sci. 2018 05; 19(4):468-489. Marseille E, Mirzazadeh A, Biggs MA, P Miller A, Horvath H, Lightfoot M, Malekinejad M, Kahn JG. PMID: 29374797.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  12. Changes in Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use Over Five Years After Receiving Versus Being Denied a Pregnancy Termination. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2018 03; 79(2):293-301. Roberts SCM, Foster DG, Gould H, Biggs MA. PMID: 29553359.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  13. Expanding the Abortion Provider Workforce: A Qualitative Study of Organizations Implementing a New California Policy. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2018 03; 50(1):33-39. Battistelli MF, Magnusson S, Biggs MA, Freedman L. PMID: 29443434.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  14. Socioeconomic Outcomes of Women Who Receive and Women Who Are Denied Wanted Abortions in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2018 03; 108(3):407-413. Foster DG, Biggs MA, Ralph L, Gerdts C, Roberts S, Glymour MM. PMID: 29345993.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  15. "Birth Control can Easily Take a Back Seat": Challenges Providing IUDs in Community Health Care Settings. J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2018; 29(1):228-244. Biggs MA, Kaller S, Harper CC, Freedman L, Mays AR. PMID: 29503297.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  16. The Impact of a Parental Notification Requirement on Illinois Minors' Access to and Decision-Making Around Abortion. J Adolesc Health. 2018 03; 62(3):281-287. Ralph LJ, King E, Belusa E, Foster DG, Brindis CD, Biggs MA. PMID: 29248391.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  17. Predictors of timing of pregnancy discovery. Contraception. 2018 04; 97(4):303-308. McCarthy M, Upadhyay U, Biggs MA, Anthony R, Holl J, Roberts SC. PMID: 29242084.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  18. Role of Insurance Coverage in Contraceptive Use After Abortion. Obstet Gynecol. 2017 12; 130(6):1338-1346. Biggs MA, Taylor D, Upadhyay UD. PMID: 29112661.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  19. Postgraduate Experiences With an Advanced Reproductive Health and Abortion Training and Leadership Program. Fam Med. 2017 Oct; 49(9):706-713. Block A, Dehlendorf C, Biggs MA, McNeil S, Goodman S. PMID: 29045988.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  20. Fatal flaws in recent analysis on the risk of premature death following teenage abortion and childbirth. Eur J Public Health. 2017 10 01; 27(5):794. Biggs MA, Roberts SCM. PMID: 28957488.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  21. Can stories reduce abortion stigma? Findings from a longitudinal cohort study. Cult Health Sex. 2018 03; 20(3):335-350. Cockrill K, Biggs A. PMID: 28705119.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  22. Mental Health Outcomes After Having or Being Denied an Abortion-Reply. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017 06 01; 74(6):654. Biggs MA, Upadhyay UD, Foster DG. PMID: 28492913.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  23. The Role of Publicly Funded Family Planning Sites In Health Insurance Enrollment. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2017 06; 49(2):103-109. Yarger J, Daniel S, Biggs MA, Malvin J, Brindis CD. PMID: 28445624.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  24. Women's Mental Health and Well-being 5 Years After Receiving or Being Denied an Abortion: A Prospective, Longitudinal Cohort Study. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017 02 01; 74(2):169-178. Biggs MA, Upadhyay UD, McCulloch CE, Foster DG. PMID: 27973641.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 21     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  25. Does abortion increase women's risk for post-traumatic stress? Findings from a prospective longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open. 2016 Feb 01; 6(2):e009698. Biggs MA, Rowland B, McCulloch CE, Foster DG. PMID: 26832431.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  26. The effect of abortion on having and achieving aspirational one-year plans. BMC Womens Health. 2015 Nov 11; 15:102. Upadhyay UD, Biggs MA, Foster DG. PMID: 26559911.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  27. Projections and opinions from 100 experts in long-acting reversible contraception. Contraception. 2015 Dec; 92(6):543-52. Foster DG, Barar R, Gould H, Gomez I, Nguyen D, Biggs MA. PMID: 26515195.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  28. Mental Health Diagnoses 3 Years After Receiving or Being Denied an Abortion in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2015 Dec; 105(12):2557-63. Biggs MA, Neuhaus JM, Foster DG. PMID: 26469674.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  29. California Family Planning Health Care Providers' Challenges to Same-Day Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Provision. Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Aug; 126(2):338-45. Biggs MA, Harper CC, Brindis CD. PMID: 26241424.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  30. Potential public sector cost-savings from over-the-counter access to oral contraceptives. Contraception. 2015 May; 91(5):373-9. Foster DG, Biggs MA, Phillips KA, Grindlay K, Grossman D. PMID: 25732570.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  31. A comparison of depression and anxiety symptom trajectories between women who had an abortion and women denied one. Psychol Med. 2015 Jul; 45(10):2073-82. Foster DG, Steinberg JR, Roberts SC, Neuhaus J, Biggs MA. PMID: 25628123.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  32. Did increasing use of highly effective contraception contribute to declining abortions in Iowa? Contraception. 2015 Feb; 91(2):167-73. Biggs MA, Rocca CH, Brindis CD, Hirsch H, Grossman D. PMID: 25465890.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  33. Risk of violence from the man involved in the pregnancy after receiving or being denied an abortion. BMC Med. 2014 Sep 29; 12:144. Roberts SC, Biggs MA, Chibber KS, Gould H, Rocca CH, Foster DG. PMID: 25262880.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  34. Perceived stress and emotional social support among women who are denied or receive abortions in the United States: a prospective cohort study. BMC Womens Health. 2014 Jun 19; 14:76. Harris LF, Roberts SC, Biggs MA, Rocca CH, Foster DG. PMID: 24946971.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  35. Does abortion reduce self-esteem and life satisfaction? Qual Life Res. 2014 Nov; 23(9):2505-13. Biggs MA, Upadhyay UD, Steinberg JR, Foster DG. PMID: 24740325.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  36. Factors influencing the provision of long-acting reversible contraception in California. Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Mar; 123(3):593-602. Biggs MA, Harper CC, Malvin J, Brindis CD. PMID: 24499746.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  37. The role of intimate partners in women's reasons for seeking abortion. Womens Health Issues. 2014 Jan-Feb; 24(1):e131-8. Chibber KS, Biggs MA, Roberts SC, Foster DG. PMID: 24439939.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  38. Understanding why women seek abortions in the US. BMC Womens Health. 2013 Jul 05; 13:29. Biggs MA, Gould H, Foster DG. PMID: 23829590.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  39. Cost-savings from the provision of specific contraceptive methods in 2009. Womens Health Issues. 2013 Jul-Aug; 23(4):e265-71. Foster DG, Biggs MA, Malvin J, Bradsberry M, Darney P, Brindis CD. PMID: 23816157.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  40. Same-day LARC insertion attitudes and practices. Contraception. 2013 Nov; 88(5):629-35. Biggs MA, Arons A, Turner R, Brindis CD. PMID: 23809277.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  41. Limited socioeconomic opportunities and Latina teen childbearing: a qualitative study of family and structural factors affecting future expectations. J Immigr Minor Health. 2013 Apr; 15(2):334-40. Minnis AM, Marchi K, Ralph L, Biggs MA, Combellick S, Arons A, Brindis CD, Braveman P. PMID: 22678305.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  42. Interest in a pericoital pill among women in family planning and abortion clinics. Contraception. 2013 Jul; 88(1):141-6. Foster DG, Biggs MA, Grossman D, Schwarz EB. PMID: 23507170.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
  43. Educational barriers, social isolation, and stable romantic relationships among pregnant immigrant Latina teens. Hisp Health Care Int. 2013; 11(1):38-46. Biggs MA, Combellick S, Arons A, Brindis CD. PMID: 24830483.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  44. Misunderstanding the risk of conception from unprotected and protected sex. Womens Health Issues. 2013 Jan; 23(1):e47-53. Biggs MA, Foster DG. PMID: 23231762.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  45. Unprotected intercourse among women wanting to avoid pregnancy: attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs. Womens Health Issues. 2012 May-Jun; 22(3):e311-8. Biggs MA, Karasek D, Foster DG. PMID: 22555219.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 18     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  46. Estimating the fertility effect of expansions of publicly funded family planning services in California. Womens Health Issues. 2011 Nov-Dec; 21(6):418-24. Foster DG, Biggs MA, Rostovtseva D, de Bocanegra HT, Darney PD, Brindis CD. PMID: 21802962.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  47. Latina adolescents' perceptions of their male partners' influences on childbearing: findings from a qualitative study in California. Cult Health Sex. 2011 Sep; 13(8):873-86. Schwartz SL, Brindis CD, Ralph LJ, Biggs MA. PMID: 21707264.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  48. Willingness to have unprotected sex. J Sex Res. 2012; 49(1):61-8. Foster DG, Higgins JA, Biggs MA, McCain C, Holtby S, Brindis CD. PMID: 21516592.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  49. Factors Associated with Delayed Childbearing: From the Voices of Expectant Latina Adults and Teens in California. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences 2010; 32:77-103. 2010; (32):77-103. Biggs MA, Ralph L, Minnis A, Arons A, Marchi K, Lehrer J, Braveman P, Brindis C. .
  50. Cost savings from the provision of specific methods of contraception in a publicly funded program. Am J Public Health. 2009 Mar; 99(3):446-51. Foster DG, Rostovtseva DP, Brindis CD, Biggs MA, Hulett D, Darney PD. PMID: 18703437.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
  51. Family planning and life planning reproductive intentions among individuals seeking reproductive health care. Womens Health Issues. 2008 Sep-Oct; 18(5):351-9. Foster DG, Biggs MA, Ralph LJ, Arons A, Brindis CD. PMID: 18485738.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  52. Public savings from the prevention of unintended pregnancy: a cost analysis of family planning services in California. Health Serv Res. 2007 Oct; 42(5):1960-80. Amaral G, Foster DG, Biggs MA, Jasik CB, Judd S, Brindis CD. PMID: 17850528.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  53. Estimates of pregnancies averted through California's family planning waiver program in 2002. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2006 Sep; 38(3):126-31. Foster DG, Biggs MA, Amaral G, Brindis C, Navarro S, Bradsberry M, Stewart F. PMID: 16963385.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  54. Integrating Chlamydia trachomatis control services for males in female reproductive health programs. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2003 Sep-Oct; 35(5):226-8. McConnell JK, Packel L, Biggs MA, Chow JM, Brindis C. PMID: 14668026.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
  55. Meeting the reproductive health care needs of adolescents: California's Family Planning Access, Care, and Treatment Program. J Adolesc Health. 2003 Jun; 32(6 Suppl):79-90. Brindis CD, Llewelyn L, Marie K, Blum M, Biggs A, Maternowska C. PMID: 12782446.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
  56. Adolescent Latino reproductive health: A review of the literature. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 2001; (23):255-326. Driscoll AK, Biggs AM, Brindis CD, Yankah E.
  57. Maternal moods predict breastfeeding in Barbados. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 1999 Apr; 20(2):80-7. Galler JR, Harrison RH, Biggs MA, Ramsey F, Forde V. PMID: 10219685.
    View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:Humans
Tags: 
Adolescent sexual health
Contraception