Genitourinary medicine: an opportunity to reduce unwanted pregnancy

Abstract

We sought to investigate contraceptive use in women attending a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic, and to assess the need for a contraceptive service in this setting. Female attendees at Nottingham GUM clinic were invited to complete an anonymous questionnaire regarding past and present contraceptive use and whether a contraceptive service within GUM would be utilized. Four hundred and eighty-nine questionnaires were analysed. The majority had previously used condoms (89.8%) or the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) (74.6%), and 46.6% and 37.4%, respectively were currently using these methods. Contraception was frequently used for the dual aims of avoiding both pregnancy and infection (48.5%). General practitioners (GPs) and family planning clinics were most frequently cited as sources of regular contraceptive advice, 58.1% and 47.2% respectively, and emergency contraception 50.8% and 37.3%, respectively. If a contraceptive service was available within GUM 56.9% of respondents indicated they would use it.