FSRH celebrates 60 years of the contraceptive pill

This week marks 60 years of the contraceptive pill being available, which has enabled girls and women across the UK to access an effective method of contraception and make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.

The contraceptive pill has played a hugely significant role in ensuring women are able to choose if and when to have children, helping to realise their right to bodily autonomy.

While this is an important milestone, there is still much work to do to ensure all girls and women are confidently able to access the full range of contraception and no longer face unnecessary barriers as the result of a fragmented sexual and reproductive healthcare system. It is a fundamental right for women living in the UK to have confidential access to the full range of contraceptive methods.

It is a fundamental right for women living in the UK to have confidential access to the full range of contraceptive methods.

An important step towards increased access is the reclassification of progestogen-only contraceptive pills to a pharmacy medicine. Availability over the counter in pharmacies makes it easier for women to access essential contraception to avoid unplanned pregnancies during and beyond COVID-19.

For more information on the pill and other forms of contraception, re-watch our Instagram Live with Dr Anita Mitra and Dr Cindy Farmer - in partnership with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, here.