BEYOND BARRIERS: REIMAGINING ACCESS TO POST-PREGNANCY CONTRACEPTION A GUIDE FOR BEST PRACTICE
Importantly, improved provision of PPC helps to tackle common myths and misconceptions around women, pregnancy, contraception, and fertility. Moreover, individuals who experience outcomes such as miscarriage, abortion, or ectopic pregnancy may not encounter maternity or midwifery services. Therefore, it is essential that PPC is delivered through a coordinated, whole- system approach that integrates services and commissioning structures to prevent gaps in care, information provision and ensure equitable access for all post-pregnancy outcomes. PPC is integral to supporting safe maternity care by supporting women to have all necessary information and informed choice. Importantly, improved provision of PPC helps to tackle common myths and misconceptions around women, pregnancy, contraception and fertility. For example, providers of PPC in Greater Manchester (Manchester, Trafford and Salford (SSCMS)) found that in asking women on the postnatal ward when they thought they could get
pregnant again after birth, answers varied from “straight away” to “150 days” to “2 years.” 17 National statistics support this need for improved access to accurate knowledge and counselling on contraception. Meanwhile, a UK study reported that almost 1 in 13 women presenting for an abortion or birth had conceived within a year of a previous birth, and 1 in 8 women with children conceive and continue another pregnancy within the same time frame. 18 It is crucial that women are able to make informed choices about contraception and access the support they need post-pregnancy. Yet, too many health services are not set up to facilitate this, and women face a postcode lottery of provision across England. That is why since 2023 we have led a working group of the CoSRH Hatfield Vision on post-pregnancy access to contraception and the importance of collaborative commissioning to make this a reality. We would like to sincerely thank all individuals, professionals and organisations who have given their time and expertise to contribute to this report and to the delivery of PPC services across the UK. We warmly welcome the report’s recommendations and very much look forward to working with colleagues in the health sector and policymakers across the country to ensure that all women and their partners are able to access the contraceptive care they need post-pregnancy.
Dr Janet Barter is President of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare and a Consultant in Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare in East London. After medical training in Sheffield, and time as a GP trainee, she embarked on a career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, driven by a strong interest in women’s health shaped by experiences in the UK and West Africa. As the specialty of SRH developed she became embedded in the Specialty as a Consultant, Educator and Leader and has worked clinically across the whole sphere of SRH.
Dr Janet Barter President, The College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
Prof Ranee Thakar MD FRCOG is the President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, a Consultant Obstetrician and Urogynaecologist at Croydon University Hospital, an Honorary Senior Lecturer at St George’s University of London, and Honorary Professor of Women’s Health at the University of Liverpool.
Prof Ranee Thakar President, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
17 Contribution from provider to the report. 18 Heller R, Cameron S, Briggs R, et al. Postpartum contraception: a missed opportunity to prevent unintended pregnancy and short inter-pregnancy intervals. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 2016;42:93–8.
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