Contraception

This year brought an expansion of community pharmacy involvement in providing and managing contraception. 

Exciting news was announced following a safety review by the Commission of Human Medicines and two public consultations (in February 2021) on the POM to P switch of two progestogen-only contraceptive pills. Hana and Lovima (75mcg desogestrel) were reclassified, with 80 per cent of those responding to the consultation supporting the reclassification. 

Desogestrel was found to be "safe for most women to take". 

In November, pharmacists in Scotland were enabled to provide a three-month supply of desogestrel 75mcg tablets to patients following a patient request or after an emergency hormonal contraception consultation. Meanwhile, in England (in September), a 12-month pilot started in seven primary care network areas enabling community pharmacists to provide repeat contraception to patients already using oral hormonal contraceptives.