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Page last updated on 12/13/2007
Contraceptive specialists urge caution in pharmacists prescribing the contraceptive pill
In response to Lord Darzi’s announcement that the contraceptive pill is to be given out by pharmacists without prescription in a new pilot scheme, Dr Christine Robinson, Vice-President of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare commented:
“We believe that repeat prescriptions of the contraceptive pill by pharmacists for women who are already using these methods may help to increase accessibility and take pressure off busy GPs and sexual and reproductive healthcare clinics.
“However the Faculty is concerned that the move to pharmacist prescribing will restrict choice, as pharmacists will not be able to offer Long Acting Reversible Methods of Contraception (LARCs), such as the coil or the implant. These can only be fitted by trained practitioners and are among the most effective contraceptive methods, as unlike the contraceptive pill, they do not need to be taken daily.
“Moreover the provision of excellent sexual healthcare requires appropriately trained practitioners to provide a holistic approach, identifying and dealing with other sexual health needs that often accompany the request for contraception. Isolating the provision of oral contraception in these circumstances may result in missed opportunities for identifying other sexual health issues, such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
“The Faculty also urges caution with regards to safety. In order to safely prescribe the contraceptive pill, a practitioner has to be fully aware of the risks and benefits of all methods of contraception, and would need to take a detailed personal and family history, as well as checking the blood pressure and BMI before initiating treatment. In practical terms this requires privacy, equipment and training to meet and maintain the standards of care laid down by the Faculty.“ |
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