Community pharmacy supply of emergency contraception

doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7315.751

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Impact of emergency contraception on women's and men's behaviour requires further exploration

Paul Bissell (Paul.Bissell@nottingham.ac.uk), lecturer in social pharmacy,
Claire Anderson, director of pharmacy practice and social pharmacy,
Lesley Bacon, consultant in community reproductive health,
Beth Taylor, pharmacy manager, community health,
Karen O'Brien, project coordinator

University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD
University of Nottingham
South London NHS Trust, London SE5 7RN
South London NHS Trust, London SE14 5ER
Manchester, Salford and Trafford Health Action Zone, Manchester M21 7RL
3 Condor Place, Unsworth Heights, Auckland 1030, New Zealand

EDITOR—Stammers in his letter expresses anxiety about the supply of emergency hormonal contraception in community pharmacies and the effect this may have on the spread of sexually transmitted infections.1 He says that women in need of emergency hormonal contraception will be at risk of sexually transmitted infections. But many of these women are using the contraceptive pill and have forgotten to take it, or are in stable relationships. These women are not at increased risk of contracting infections, and pharmacy supply will have no impact on their spread. If a woman is attending for emergency contraception because of a burst condom or an episode of unprotected sex, there is a risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, but the level of risk …