Deregulating emergency contraception. Genitourinary clinics offer out of hours service.

Abstract

I agree with James Owen Drife about deregulating emergency contraception but he does not mention the valuable service that departments of genitourinary medicine (sexual health clinics) can offer to a woman who realizes that she is at risk of an unplanned pregnancy. Nowadays most such departments offer a comprehensive service which include contraceptive advice. In some genitourinary medicine clinics the current practice is to prescribe emergency contraception to women at risk of an unplanned pregnancy. Genitourinary physicians now work in clinics during late evenings and also on Saturdays in some part of Britain and an on call rota operates in most hospitals. Women are usually ashamed and embarrassed to see their general practitioner to request emergency contraception. If they attend a department of genitourinary medicine a strictly confidential service is offered. Counselling about sexual behavior can be given and any relative contraindications to hormonal emergency contraception can be identified by a medical practitioner. Further contraceptive advice can be offered in subsequent consultations. Long term follow up and referral to family planning clinics or to appropriate agencies may be arranged. With support from experts women would feel less anxious after unplanned sexual intercourse and about pregnancy. Some women at risk of pregnancy after unplanned intercourse or an accident with a condom will be at risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease. Genitourinary clinics could offer the best service for such patients. Public awareness of the confidential and comprehensive services of departments of genitourinary medicine should be increased by advertising in the lay press and in television programs; this would enable people to select the appropriate service. This would undoubtedly safeguard the health of the nation. (full text)