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Women's Health: Contraception
There are many different types of contraception available in the UK. The right choice for you will depend on your individual circumstances, preferences and health needs. Options include hormonal and non-hormonal methods, short-term and long-acting contraception, as well as permanent contraception.
The NHS Contraception guide is a good starting point for comparing individual methods:
Contraception Services at Beaumont Elms Surgery
At Beamont Elms Surgery our healthcare team can help you review your options for contraception and help you to reach an informed decision on the method that is most suitable for you. We can directly offer many of the options through the surgery or we may signpost you to other local services where appropriate.
Contraceptive pills
If you think that a ‘pill’, either the Combined pill or Progesterone Only pill, is the most suitable method of contraception for you, you may not need to visit the surgery as you can often access these directly via local community pharmacies without a prescription. Pharmacies can dispense 3, 6 or sometimes12 months supplies of your pill via this service for eligible patients. Use the NHS ‘find a pharmacy’ link here to locate a pharmacy near to you that offers this service:
If you are not eligible to use the NHS community pharmacy service for any reason, please get in touch with the surgery to make an appointment with a member of our healthcare team.
Other Short-Acting Contraception
Combined transdermal patches and combined vaginal rings are also available on prescription via the surgery, for some patients, when oral contraceptives have proved unacceptable or may not be effective. Please contact the surgery to make an appointment if you would like to discuss these options.
Long acting contraception
If you require emergency contraception, we recommend directly contacting one of the below services. Use the NHS search link here to find a service convenient to you:
Find emergency contraception - NHSFind emergency contraception - NHS
- A local pharmacy that offers NHS emergency contraception
- Sexual Health / Family Planning clinics
- Some walk-in centres
Emergency contraception
If you require emergency contraception, we recommend directly contacting one of the below services. Use the NHS search link here to find a service convenient to you:
https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/sexual-health-services/find-emergency-contraception/
- A local pharmacy that offers NHS emergency contraception
- Sexual Health / Family Planning clinics
- Some walk-in centres
Permanent contraception
At Beaumont Elms Surgery we offer a range of long-acting contraception methods.
Coils: We have two female GPs at the surgery that offer a coil fitting service. If you think that a contraceptive coil, either hormonal or non-hormonal (copper coil) is right for you, contact the surgery to make an initial appointment with one of our expert nurses to discuss your needs
Contraceptive Injection: We have nurses that can offer contraceptive injections at the practice. These can be given 12 weekly at the surgery (Depo-Provera) or if you would prefer and it is suitable for you, you can be trained to give your own injections at home (Sayana Press)
Contraceptive Implant: We have a GP and nurse at the practice that can offer a 5 yearly progestogen contraceptive implant (Nexplanon). Contact the surgery to book an appointment if this is something that you would like to explore.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Barrier methods of contraception, such as condoms, are the only methods of contraception that protect against STIs. Protection against STIs is therefore an important consideration when considering your contraception options, particularly if you do not have a long-term partner or are in a new relationship. More information regarding STI testing and treatment can be found via the Oxford Sexual Health website here:
https://www.sexualhealthoxfordshire.nhs.uk/sti/
Most STIs can be readily treated, and it is important to get tested and treated as early as possible if you think you are at risk.
Meningioma Risk with Progestogens
Some hormonal contraceptives contain a type of hormone called a progestogen. There is recent evidence that certain progestogens are associated with a small increased risk of developing a meningioma, a usually benign (non-cancerous) tumour arising from the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
The risk varies between different progestogens and appears to be influenced by the dose and duration of use. An association has been established with prolonged use of higher-dose progestogens such as cyproterone acetate, nomegestrol acetate and medroxyprogesterone acetate. More recent evidence has also identified a small increased risk with prolonged use of desogestrel and etonogestrel, which are used in some contraceptive pills and the contraceptive implant.
Importantly, meningioma remains rare, and the overall increase in risk with contraceptive progestogens is small. For desogestrel and etonogestrel, European regulators estimate approximately one additional meningioma for every 67,300 women using these medicines.
If you have a current or previous meningioma, certain progestogen-containing contraceptives should not be used. If you are diagnosed with a meningioma while using a progestogen associated with this risk, your healthcare professional will advise you about stopping or changing your contraception. The risk may reduce after stopping treatment.
If you develop symptoms such as persistent or worsening headaches, changes in vision, hearing loss or ringing in the ears, loss of smell, memory problems, seizures, or weakness in an arm or leg, seek medical advice. These symptoms can have many causes and do not necessarily indicate a meningioma.
If you are currently using hormonal contraception, do not stop it without discussing your options with a healthcare professional. We can help you consider the benefits and risks of different contraceptive methods and find an option that is suitable for you.
Weight Loss Injections and Contraception
Some medicines used for weight loss can affect contraception. These include medicines such as tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and semaglutide (Wegovy).
If you are using Mounjaro and use the contraceptive pill, you should use an additional barrier method, such as condoms, for 4 weeks after starting Mounjaro and for 4 weeks after every dose increase. This is because Mounjaro can delay stomach emptying and may reduce the absorption of oral contraception. Alternatively, you can consider switching to a non-oral contraceptive method, such as the implant, injection, contraceptive patch, vaginal ring or coil.
There is currently no evidence that the other commonly used weight loss medicines, including Wegovy, reduce the effectiveness of oral contraception. However, vomiting or severe diarrhoea caused by any weight loss medicine can reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill. If this happens, follow the advice for missed pills and consider using condoms while symptoms continue.
If you are starting, stopping or changing a weight-loss medicine, please let your GP, nurse, pharmacist or contraception provider know so that they can make sure your contraception remains effective.