FAQs

  1. How do I know if I am eligible for the study?
    View the list of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Or take our prescreening survey, and the study staff will contact you if you are eligible.
  2. How long will my participation last?
    You participation will last from when you enroll in the study until you deliver your baby (an estimated 9 months).
  3. Will I be compensated for my participation?
    You may receive up to $50 in compensation for completion of the enrollment visit and questionnaires. Additionally, hopefully the information we gather from this study will help inform early pregnancy care in the future.
  4. Do I have to pay to be in the study?
    No, you do not have to pay to participate. We will mail you the aspirin medication, free of charge.
  5. Do I need health insurance to participate?  
    Health insurance is not needed to participate in this study.
  6. Will I have to change any of my normal prenatal/OB care?
    This study will not affect your normal prenatal care. You may visit any physician, within or outside of Penn Medicine, as normal.
  7. Will I have any in-person visits during the study?
    This study can be conducted entirely remotely! The consent visit can be conduct via phone call or Zoom, and takes about 45 minutes to complete (this is the longest procedure!). The monthly check-ins consist of a phone call that is 10 minutes or less. There is an optional blood draw, which would require you to come in for an appointment.
  8. Is there an increased risk of bleeding taking the double low dose (162mg) of aspirin as opposed to the low dose (81mg)?
    While the 162mg of aspirin is a higher dose than standard baby aspirin, it is still less than a single dose of aspirin used by adults (for headaches or pain). Despite this relatively small increment, researchers believe that it might be enough to have benefits for increased pregnancy and prevention of preeclampsia. The overall risks of bleeding are lower than those who take regular dose aspirin, and researchers believe that there is no increased risk of bleeding that would affect you or your fetus (the study intends to help prevent this risk!). Many clinicians outside of the USA have already adopted and prescribe this dose. All enrolled subjects will be monitored for any risks, while they do remain low.
  9. Is there any medication I cannot take aspirin with?
    Aspirin can be taken with any medication at any time of day. Participants should create a regimen that is consistent and easy to remember.
  10. Will my participation in this study prevent me from being eligible for other studies?
    You can participate in other studies while enrolled in the APPLE Study. The only study where your eligibility could possibly be impacted would be an interventional study that would require their participants to be off aspirin.
  11. Is the 162mg of aspirin safe this early and throughout pregnancy? Is this dosage safe for the fetus?
    Researchers hypothesize that the higher dose of aspirin started earlier will result in a healthy pregnancy. To our knowledge, there is no data to suggest that the aspirin has any effect on the baby. While this is a higher dose than regular baby aspirin, it is still lower than a single adult tablet of aspirin.
  12. Is the placebo pill safe?
    The placebo pill is safe as it is inert and contains no active ingredients.