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Abstract

AbstractNatural family planning method is as effective as the contraceptive pillResearchers in Germany have investigated the efficacy and acceptability of a fertility‐awareness‐ based method of family planning.1The symptothermal method uses two indicators of fertility –temperature and cer vical secretion obser vations –to enable couples to identify the onset of the woman's fertile phase.In a prospective observational study, a cohort of 900 women contributed information about body temperature, cer vical secretions and sexual behaviour, covering a total of 17 638 cycles.The overall rate of unintended pregnancies was 1.8 per cent and the drop‐out rate for dissatisfaction with the method was 9.2 per 100 women after 13 cycles of use. If couples abstained from intercourse or used a barrier method during the fertile period, the rates of unplanned pregnancies per year were 0.4 and 0.6 per cent respectively.1. Frank‐Herrmann P, Heil J, Gnoth C, et al. The effectiveness of a fertility awareness based method to avoid pregnancy in relation to a couple's sexual behaviour during the fertile time: a prospective longitudinal study. Hum Reprod 2007; 20 Feb. doi:10.1093/humrep/dem003.Identifying research priorities in urinary incontinenceResearch on the effects of therapies often fails to address the questions that are most important to patients and carers and to the practising clinicians to whom they turn for help. The James Lind Alliance (JLA) was established in 2004 to encourage patients and clinicians to work together to identify treatment uncertainties and priorities for research.The JLA is now setting up a working partnership of patients, carers and clinicians to inform the future commissioning of research on urinar y incontinence. The partnership aims to identify and prioritise uncertainties about the treatment and management of urinar y incontinence that are of practical importance and that cannot be answered by up‐to‐date systematic reviews of research evidence.The taboos associated with urinary incontinence result in poor public and professional awareness, both of the condition itself and of ser vices and treatments available. Patients may be less likely to express their concerns and priorities relating to treatments than in other disease areas. It is therefore an area to which a systematic method of gathering, collating and prioritising clinician and consumer views and questions is particularly appropriate.The findings of the JLA working partnership on incontinence will be reported to funding and research‐agenda‐setting organisations such as the NHS Health Technology Assessment programme and the Medical Research Council.The JLA protocol on urinary incontinence is available at: www.lindalliance.org/pdfs/JLA%20WP%20UI%20Protocol.pdf Copyright © 2007 Wiley Interface Ltd