New Resources

  WHO Guidance – Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems The second edition of this guidance has now been published and is available from:  http://extranet.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/70914/1/9789241548434_eng.pdf   RCOG – The Initial Management of Chronic Pelvic Pain,  (Green-top 41) New guidance published in May available from: http://www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/initial-management-chronic-pelvic-pain-green-top-41 RCN – SDI and IUT Accreditation Guidance […]

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European Consortium for Emergency contraception launched at ESC in Athens

The European Consortium for Emergency contraception (ECEC) was launched in Athens on June 21st at the 12th Congress of the European Society for Contraception and Reproductive Health. Why a European Consortium on EC, now? Access to emergency contraception (EC) is unequal across the region. Absence of a harmonised evidence-based approach to EC recommendations. Current changes […]

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The Journal – July Issue

Highlights from this issue include: Norethisterone and VTE risk Diana Mansour’s article previewed at online first and in the 15th June blog. See page 148 Helping women with hirsutism Editor’s Choice article – Stephen Franks provides useful guidance for helping women with this common and often distressing condition. See page 182 US administration’s attitude to […]

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Safer prescribing of therapeutic norethisterone for women at risk of VTE

Latest Online First article Norethisterone and VTE risk Diana Mansour highlights a change in the Summary of Product Characteristics for Primolut N®, since data have emerged showing that, in high doses, norethisterone is partly metabolised to estradiol. This only applies to this particular progestogen, and only in high doses, not those used in contraceptive pills. […]

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SRH News from American Journals

Effectiveness of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception From the New England Journal of Medicine: A large (7486 paticipants) prospective cohort study, by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, to evaluate contraceptive methods has found dramatic differences in their effectiveness. Women who used pills, the patch or vaginal ring were 20 times more likely to […]

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Another flawed database analysis of VTE risk and hormonal contraceptives

Lidegaard O, Nielson LH, Skovlund CW, Lokkegaard E. Venous thrombosis in users of non-oral hormonal contraception: follow-up study, Denmark 2001-10 BMJ 2012;344:e2990 doi: 10.1136/bmj.e2990 (Published 10 May 2012) This is basically a companion paper to the one published last year in the BMJ, which concentrated on the Pill and was comprehensively criticised in the January […]

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Melinda Gates’ New Crusade & Confirmation that IUD is most effective for EC

Melinda Gates’ New Crusade: Investing Billions in Women’s Health Melinda Gates this week pledged billions of dollars to be spent on improving access to contraception. In her many travels she repeatedly met women who were unable to gain access to something which most of the rest of the world take for granted. In an interview […]

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News items from April

Better access to birth control would reduce stress on global resources as reported by Nigel Hawkes in the BMJ. The rich should consume less and the poor should procreate less, says the Royal Society in a new report. The report was produced by a working party chaired by John Sulston, who headed the UK part […]

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All Party Parliamentary Group launches enquiry into restrictions in access to contraceptive services.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health in the UK (APPGSRH) has launched an inquiry and call for evidence into restrictions in access to contraceptive services. Examples have already been seen of commissioners cutting prescribing budgets for contraceptive methods to meet targets for savings, with consequences for choice and public health outcomes. In addition […]

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What is The Course of 5?

The Course of 5 (C5) is the 2nd stage of the new DFSRH blended learning training package – it provides a link between the theory element (e-SRH) and the practical, clinical assessments (ACP). What is involved in C5? 5 one-hour, assessed workshops in groups of no more than 4 per facilitator. These are usually offered […]

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