What can we learn from experiences of contraceptive consultation and care?

As a teenager, accessing my preferred method of contraception seemed so easy. With a quick google of ‘How does the patch work?’ I gathered that I wouldn’t have to remember to apply it daily, and I liked the sound of that.

GP appointment scheduled, I turned up with an air of confidence and capability – I was doing GCSE biology, so clearly I had a firm handle on reproductive health. The GP asked some questions to test my knowledge of the patch, which I apparently answered to the required standard, and I left with a prescription and an overwhelming feeling of maturity.

Looking back, I realise now that I was not the grown up that I believed I was – I barely understood my own body. The patch was not the right method of contraception for me, but I was never offered any information on other methods. The possible side effects of the patch were never actually explained to me – I never really understood what to expect or how to handle these issues.

Through conversations with many of my friends, I realise now that my experience was definitely not unique.

I hope that through this work I can help bring attention to the importance of being able to make informed decisions that are supported by high quality, patient-centred contraceptive care.

I went on to properly study the physiology of the body in my pharmacology degree. Sexual and reproductive health was one of my main areas of interest through my Master’s in International Health, which in turn has led me here, to my internship at Kaleidoscope.

As part of my internship I have been offered the chance to design and lead my own project – I have chosen to expand and inform my passion for reproductive health.

Survey of experiences

My project aims to understand the experiences of contraceptive care and counselling from the perspectives of young women and people who menstruate aged 16-25, and explore what could be learned from these experiences.

I’m asking people to fill in an online survey that will assess satisfaction with contraception consultations, in areas such as the range of information provided, the time allocated and sensitivity shown by their health professional. I also have hopes of using the insights from the survey to support health professionals to see where realistic and effective improvements could be made.

For every response to the survey, £1 will be donated to our collaborators at Sexpression: UK, a charity that aims to empower young people to make decisions about relationships and sex by running informal and comprehensive reproductive and sexual health education in the community.

Right to be informed

The right to be informed of all available methods of contraception, and what kind of impact each method may have on your physical and mental wellbeing is an important part of reproductive justice and bodily autonomy. This has been recognised in the government’s 10 year ambition, which aims to ensure that “we are supported through high-quality information and education to make informed decisions about their reproductive health”.

We have periods for roughly 40 years of our lives, so matching your contraception to your needs, body and lifestyle is a very important decision.

This isn’t just about doing what’s right – putting time and money into reproductive health makes sense economically as well. Public Health England estimates that for every £1 invested in government funded contraception, the public sector will get a £9 return on the investment. This is mainly through preventing unplanned pregnancies and savings on children’s healthcare.

Breaking point

However, a recent report has found that sexual health services are currently at ‘breaking point’. Demand for appointments has grown significantly over the last 10 years, but grants for local services have been cut by more than 24%.

It is against this backdrop that the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health Hatfield Vision has set ambitions to reduce unplanned pregnancy in the UK from the current 45% to 30% by 2030, and I am wholeheartedly aligned with their views that the best way to support this is through accessible and high quality contraceptive care.

Through this project I hope to make a difference to the reproductive health of young women and people who menstruate, by generating conversation around contraceptive care and empowering individuals to set high standards for their bodily autonomy.

Quick google not enough

My personal experiences have taught me that a ‘quick google’ was not enough to find the method of contraception that was suited to me. I

hope that through this work I can help bring attention to the importance of being able to make informed decisions that are supported by high quality, patient-centred contraceptive care.

You can fill in the survey and help raise money for Sexpression: UK to empower young people to make informed decisions about sex and relationships.