Key developments in family planning
Kubba, A.
Practitioner 241(1579): 604-605
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0032-6518 PMID: 9926594 Document Number: 480142
Family planning services should try to continually improve patients' access to family planning information and services, in addition to achieving better success with issues of confidentiality, dignity, and privacy. The range of available contraceptive methods continues to widen, although standards set by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty of Family Planning are accepted as the gold standard. With regard to contraceptive choices, the long-acting methods of contraception are attracting renewed interest. In family planning clinics and general practice, nurses are being given the authority to provide systemic contraceptives, especially emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is so safe that many argue that it should be made available without prescription. Updated faculty guidelines on emergency contraception will be published by the end of the year. Progress is being made in the development of male systemic contraception. Persona is a miniature computerized device which accurately predicts a woman's fertile phase; efficacy studies suggest a failure rate of 6%. Combined oral contraceptives, IUDs, and monthly combined injectables are discussed.