Introduction

On the face of it, the idea of contraception is simple: to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. However, with more than a dozen options available, the choice can seem overwhelming for patients. High up on the wish list for many will be “the pill” – the commonly used term for oral contraceptives.

When making the choice, there are many factors to take into consideration, some of which patients may not have identified. This is where the knowledge and skills of health professionals come to the fore. For pharmacy technicians, the aim should be to enable patients to make an informed decision about what they feel suits them best, as this increases the likelihood that they will use the contraceptive correctly and consistently. This, in turn, will support its effectiveness.

With this in mind, and against the backdrop of NHS England’s Pharmacy Contraception Service, this module provides an update on combined oral contraceptives and the information patients and prospective patients are likely to find helpful.