Rebecca G. Simmons

Rebecca G. Simmons, MPH, PhD

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Obstetrics & Gynecology

Rebecca Simmons, PhD, MPH is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Utah in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Simmons directs the evaluation for the statewide contraceptive initiative, Family Planning Elevated, and works on other implementation research, including HER Salt Lake. Her research interests and expertise include fertility awareness-based methods, comprehensive contraceptive access, health technology, and implementation science.

Education History

Undergraduate University of Utah
 BS
Graduate Training University of Utah School of Medicine
 MPH
Doctoral Training University of Utah School of Medicine
 DrPH

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Simmons RG, Sanders JN, Geist C, Gawron L, Myers K, Turok DK (2019). Predictors of contraceptive switching and discontinuation within the first 6 months of use among Highly Effective Reversible Contraceptive Initiative Salt Lake study participants. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 220(4), 376.e1-376.e12.
  2. Sexsmith CD, Sanders JN, Simmons RG, Dalessandro C, Turok D (2021). Contraceptive Method Uptake at Title X Health Centers in Utah. Women's health issues, 31(3), 219-226.
  3. Gawron LM, Simmons RG, Sanders JN, Myers K, Gundlapalli AV, Turok D (2020). The effect of a no-cost contraceptive initiative on method selection by women with housing insecurity. Contraception, 101(3), 205-209.
  4. Jennings VH, Haile LT, Simmons RG, Fultz HM, Shattuck (2019). Estimating six-cycle efficacy of the Dot app for pregnancy prevention. Contraception, 99(1), 52-55.
  5. Geist C, Aiken AR, Sanders JN, Everett BG, Myers K, Cason P, Simmons RG, Turok D (2019). Beyond intent: exploring the association of contraceptive choice with questions about Pregnancy Attitudes, Timing and How important is pregnancy prevention (PATH) questions. Contraception, 99(1), 22-26.
  6. Turok DK, Gero A, Simmons RG, Kaiser JE, Stoddard GJ, Sexsmith CD, Gawron LM, Sanders J (2021). Levonorgestrel vs. Copper Intrauterine Devices for Emergency Contraception. The New England journal of medicine, 384(4), 335-344.
  7. Gawron LM, Simonsen S, Millar MM, Lewis-Caporal J, Patel S, Simmons R (2021). Pregnancy Risk Screening and Counseling for Women Veterans: Piloting the One Key Question in the Veterans Healthcare Administration. Southern medical journal, 114(3), 150-155.
  8. Jennings V, Haile LT, Simmons RG, Spieler J, Shattuck (2019). Perfect- and typical-use effectiveness of the Dot fertility app over 13 cycles: results from a prospective contraceptive effectiveness trial. The European journal of contraception & reproductive health care, 24(2), 148-153.
  9. Hopelian NG, Simmons RG, Sanders JN, Ward K, Jenkins SM, Espey E, Turok D (2021). Comparison of levonorgestrel level and creamatocrit in milk following immediate versus delayed postpartum placement of the levonorgestrel IUD. BMC women's health, 21(1), 33.
  10. Simmons RG, Jennings (2020). Fertility awareness-based methods of family planning. Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology, 66, 68-82.
  11. Baayd J, Simmons R (2020). Protocol for a process evaluation of Family Planning Elevated: a statewide initiative to improve contraceptive access in Utah (USA). BMJ open, 10(10), e038049.
  12. Simmons RG, Myers K, Gero A, Sanders JN, Quade C, Mullholand M, Turok D (2020). Evaluating a Longitudinal Cohort of Clinics Engaging in the Family Planning Elevated Contraceptive Access Program: Study Protocol for a Comparative Interrupted Time Series Analysis. JMIR research protocols, 9(10), e18308.
  13. Haile LT, Fultz HM, Simmons RG, Shelus (2018). Market-testing a smartphone application for family planning: assessing potential of the CycleBeads app in seven countries through digital monitoring. mHealth, 4, 27.
  14. Starling MS, Kandel Z, Haile L, Simmons R (2018). User profile and preferences in fertility apps for preventing pregnancy: an exploratory pilot study. mHealth, 4, 21.
  15. Turok DK, Simmons RG, Cappiello B, Gawron LM, Saviers-Steiger J, Sanders J (2018). Use of a novel suction cervical retractor for intrauterine device insertion: a pilot feasibility trial. BMJ sexual & reproductive health,
  16. Simmons RG, Gero A, Carter G, Sanders JN, Quade C, Baayd J, Mullholand M, Elliott S, Myers K, Torres E, Smith JD, Turok D (2025). Changes in Contraceptive Services During Utah's Family Planning Elevated Contraceptive Access Initiative: A Prospective Assessment of Intervention and Control Sites. American journal of public health, 115(3), 387-396.
  17. Merle JL, Sloss EA, Sanuade OA, Lengnick-Hall R, Meza R, Golden C, Simmons RG, Velazquez A, Hill JL, Estabrooks PA, McFarland MM, Rafferty MR, Li DH, Smith J (2024). Refining the implementation research logic model: a citation analysis, user survey, and scoping review protocol. Frontiers in health services, 4, 1490764.
  18. Compton SD, Carter G, Gero A, Sanders JN, Quade C, Baayd J, Simmons R (2025). Assessing the impact of federal restrictions to the Title X program on reproductive health service provision between 2018 and 2022 in the United States. Contraception, 142, 110724.
  19. Weckstein TN, Simmons RG, Baayd J, Fay K (2024). Contraceptive risk events among family planning specialists: a cross sectional study. Reproductive health, 21(1), 133.
  20. Simmons RG, Carter G, Sanders JN, Turok D (2024). Assessing Contraceptive Switching and Discontinuation Over 3 Years in the HER Salt Lake Study. Obstetrics and gynecology, 144(1), 79-88.
  21. Torres E, Carter G, Gero A, Simmons RG, Sanders JN, Turok D (2024). Frequency of same-day contraceptive initiation, recent unprotected intercourse, and pregnancy risk: a prospective cohort study of multiple contraceptive methods. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 230(6), 661.e1-661.e7.
  22. Gero A, Elliott S, Baayd J, Cohen S, Simmons RG, Gawron L (2024). Factors associated with a negative Patient Acceptable Symptom State (PASS) response with intrauterine device placement: A retrospective survey of HER Salt Lake participants. Contraception, 133, 110385.
  23. Weckstein TN, Simmons RG, Baayd J, Fay K (2024). Contraceptive Risk Events among Family Planning Specialists: a Cross Sectional Study. Research square,
  24. Simmons RG, Baayd J, Tak C, Turok DK, Elliott S, Smith J (2023). A stakeholder-developed logic model to improve utilization of pharmacy-prescribed contraception in Utah. Implementation science communications, 4(1), 124.
  25. Kaiser JE, Turok DK, Gero A, Gawron LM, Simmons RG, Sanders J (2023). One-year pregnancy and continuation rates after placement of levonorgestrel or copper intrauterine devices for emergency contraception: a randomized controlled trial. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 228(4), 438.e1-438.e10.
  26. Simmons RG, Baayd J, Waters M, Diener Z, Turok DK, Sanders J (2023). Assessing contraceptive use as a continuum: outcomes of a qualitative assessment of the contraceptive journey. Reproductive health, 20(1), 33.
  27. Gawron LM, Young J, Yang S, Galyean P, Callegari LS, Gero A, Simmons RG, Millar MM, Zickmund S (2023). Women's Health Provider Perspectives on Reproductive Services Provision in the Veterans Health Administration. Southern medical journal, 116(2), 181-187.
  28. Kaplan J, Turok DK, Gero A, Kaiser JE, Simmons RG, Fay K (2023). Switching and discontinuation of participant-masked randomization to a copper or levonorgestrel intrauterine device when presenting for emergency contraception. Contraception, 118, 109893.
  29. Simmons RG, Baayd J, Elliott S, Cohen SR, Turok D (2022). Improving access to highly effective emergency contraception: an assessment of barriers and facilitators to integrating the levonorgestrel IUD as emergency contraception using two applications of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Implementation science communications, 3(1), 129.
  30. Fay KE, Corry S, Simmons RG, Baayd (2022). Coerced Choice: Resigned Contraceptive Usership Among Individuals Affected by Reproductive Coercion. Journal of midwifery & women's health, 67(5), 593-597.
  31. Gero A, Simmons RG, Sanders JN, Turok D (2022). Does access to no-cost contraception change method selection among individuals who report difficulty paying for health-related care?. BMC women's health, 22(1), 327.
  32. Simmons RG, Baayd J, Gero A, Quade C, Mullholand M, Torres E, Turok DK, Sanders J (2022). Implementation and Monitoring of the Family Planning Elevated Contraceptive Access Program, Utah, 2018¿2019. American journal of public health, 112(S5), S528-S531.
  33. Thorman A, Engle A, Brintz B, Simmons RG, Sanders JN, Gawron LM, Turok DK, Kaiser J (2022). Quantitative and qualitative impact of One Key Question on primary care providers' contraceptive counseling at routine preventive health visits. Contraception, 109, 73-79.
  34. Kaiser JE, Galindo E, Sanders JN, Simmons RG, Gawron LM, Herrick JS, Brintz B, Turok D (2021). Determining the impact of the Zika pandemic on primary care providers' contraceptive counseling of non-pregnant patients in the US: a mixed methods study. BMC health services research, 21(1), 1215.
  35. Geist C, Everett BG, Simmons RG, Sanders JN, Gawron LM, Myers K, Turok D (2021). Changing lives, dynamic plans: Prospective assessment of 12-month changes in pregnancy timing intentions and personal circumstances using data from HER Salt Lake. PloS one, 16(9), e0257411.
  36. Bustin DJ, Simmons R, Galdo J, Kucek ME, Logan L, Cohn R, Smith (2024). Feasibility of a contraceptive-specific electronic health record system to promote the adoption of pharmacist-prescribed contraceptive services in community pharmacies in the United States. JAMIA open, 7(3), ooae071.
  37. Stanford JB, Duane M, Simmons (2024). Evaluating Pregnancy Rates in Fertility Awareness-Based Methods for Family Planning: Simulated Comparison of Correct Use to Avoid, Method-Related, and Total Pregnancy Rates. The Linacre quarterly, 91(3), 315-328.
  38. Routh D, Simmons R, Sanders J, Gero A, Tanner HA, Turok D (2023). Building an implementation framework to address unmet contraceptive care needs in a carceral setting: a systematic review. Health & justice, 11(1), 43.
  39. Cohen SR, Baayd J, García G, Quade C, Gero A, Ekey M, Poggio C, Simmons (2022). Facility-based simulation as a programmatic tool for implementing a statewide contraceptive initiative. BMC health services research, 22(1), 965.
  40. BakenRa A, Gero A, Sanders J, Simmons R, Fay K, Turok D (2021). Pregnancy Risk by Frequency and Timing of Unprotected Intercourse Before Intrauterine Device Placement for Emergency Contraception. Obstetrics and gynecology, 138(1), 79-84.
  41. Gawron LM, Sanders JN, Sward K, Poursaid AE, Simmons R, Turok D (2020). Multi-morbidity and Highly Effective Contraception in Reproductive-Age Women in the US Intermountain West: a Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of general internal medicine, 35(3), 637-642.

Letter

  1. Geist C, Cason P, Simmons RG, Sanders JN, Everett BG, Aiken AR, Myers K, Turok D (2019). Response to the letter to the editor. Contraception, 99(3), 194-195.

Other

  1. Geist C, Aiken AR, Sanders JN, Everett BG, Myers K, Cason P, Simmons RG, Turok D (2019). Corrigendum to "Beyond intent: exploring the association of contraceptive choice with questions about Pregnancy Attitudes, Timing and How important is pregnancy prevention (PATH) questions" [Contraception volume 99 Issue 1 (2019) 22-26]. Contraception, 99(3), 197.