Combined oral contraception remains the most prescribed contraception method in the UK. Although various regimens for taking monophasic COC are held to be clinically safe, women are not routinely counseled about these choices. There is a lack of evidence on how to provide this information to women.
Researchers did this study to assess the usefulness and feasibility of including tailored use of monophasic COC within routine COC counseling in SRH service using a structured format.
Questionnaires were used to survey both the HCPs and patients immediately after the initial consultation, and then the patients again eight weeks later.
Nearly all patients felt it was helpful to be informed of the different ways of using monophasic COC by the HCP without giving too much information at one time. The HCPs were confident of their COC counseling and did not think the consultations took significantly longer.
The study concluded that information on different pill-taking regimens is useful and acceptable to patients. It is also feasible for HCPs to perform COC counseling to include tailored pill use during routine consultations in a clinical setting.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/44/1/37
