title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kingston
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Carlin
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Ahmed-Jushuf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D003277:Contraceptives, Oral, Combined; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital