Contraception from a holistic perspective – a user view

T. Belfield

Family Planning Association, UK

Patients, consumers, users, clients are all terms for women and men who receive sexual health services. The reality is whatever we call people we see for information, advice, support and treatment – without them we would have no role. The last 30 years has seen a huge change in the availability and provision of contraceptive methods. Contraception has moved from the narrow confines of women’s welfare to being an integral part of sexual health. This recognises that contraception involves men, is provided for in many different types of settings and importantly must be seen as more than just protecting against unplanned pregnancy, and needs to encompass the wider area of sexual health including sexual infection, abortion and sexual wellbeing. Research shows us that people are having more sexual partners, that they are knowledgeable about contraception and the use of condoms but do not use contraception consistently or always correctly, that sexually transmitted infections are increasing and that there is a wide variability in sexual lifestyles by age, gender, relationship and residence and all this is normal. Research also shows us that people do not always behave rationally, or in an organised or planned manner with their sex lives. As such sexual health services need to develop a holistic approach and become more ‘person-centred’ and must address more than ‘just the waist down’ but involve ‘hearts and minds’ too.

This short presentation will look at user’s perspectives on contraception and contraceptive services to provide an understanding of what people think about contraceptive methods, and how this translates into use or non-use of contraception, and why contraceptive provision must be seen within the context of sexual health.