Contraceptive (Pill/Patch) Review
To get started with your contraceptive review, just fill out the short form below. We’ll ask you a few questions to help you get started. This helps us keep track of your current contraception and whether it’s still the best option for you. In-person attendance at the practice is not required at this stage.
As part of this online review, you’ll need to record your blood pressure using a home monitor. We’ve included some guidance on how to do this. If you’re unable to take a reading at home, please book an appointment at the practice at your earliest convenience. We’ll need this information before we can safely issue your next prescription.
Our clinical team at Barclay Medical Practice actively monitors and reviews all online contraceptive review submissions. Once you send yours in, one of our clinicians will check your responses and reach out by phone or text if any changes to your medication are needed.
People choose to use contraception for all sorts of reasons. While preventing unplanned pregnancies is one of them, it’s not the only one. Some people use it to protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), while others use it to manage health conditions like heavy periods, endometriosis, adenomyosis or premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to contraception. Different methods work in different ways. Hormonal options—like the combined pill or the hormonal coil (IUD)—can help regulate periods, reduce pain and ease heavy bleeding. Barrier methods, such as condoms, can provide essential protection against STIs. Find out more about different contraceptive methods available through the NHS.
When deciding on contraception, it’s important to consider:
- Your reason for using it (pregnancy prevention, symptom management, STI protection, or a combination)
- How well the method works
- Ease of use and whether it aligns with your current lifestyle and daily routine
If you would like to discuss your current contraceptive method, or if you’re considering changing to a different method or stopping contraceptives altogether, one of our clinicians will talk you through your options and help you choose what’s best for you—knowing that your needs may change over time.
Clinical information taken from NHS Inform.
Emergency contraception helps to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. It’s an option if you’ve missed a regular contraceptive pill, a contraceptive method has failed (e.g. a condom has broken), and/or you’ve had sex without using contraception. It does not cause an abortion and is not meant to replace regular contraception.
You can get the emergency contraceptive pill (sometimes called the “morning after” pill) from our practice by calling us at 8:30 AM of any weekday of your choice to book an appointment. It’s important you do this at your earliest convenience as emergency contraception can be up to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy if it is used as soon as possible after unprotected sex—ideally within a window of 24 hours to 5 days.
Due to this, please DO NOT use this form to request emergency contraception as it will not reach our clinicians in time.
Other places where you can access free emergency contraception and confidential advice include:
- your local sexual health service
- most pharmacies
- some minor injuries units
In the event that our practice is closed and none of the above options are available to you, and you would like to speak to someone urgently about emergency contraception, please phone NHS 24’s 111 service.
Find out more information about emergency contraception here. Alternatively, information about emergency contraception is available in British Sign Language (BSL) from SignHealth. Services available may vary by location.
Clinical information taken from NHS Inform.
As part of your contraceptive review, you will be asked to check your blood pressure at home using a blood pressure monitor. If it’s your first time doing this, here are some simple instructions to guide you.
These steps apply to most clinically-validated blood pressure monitors. Individual monitor settings may vary.
- In order to take an accurate blood pressure reading, make sure that you’re resting and that you’re not feeling anxious or stressed.
- Sit upright in a chair with your back comfortably positioned against the back of the chair, and place your feet flat on the floor.
- Rest your arm on a table or any flat surface. Make sure your hand and arm are relaxed. Do not clench your fist.
- Place the cuff over your upper arm and tighten the cuff over your arm, making sure you can fit two fingers underneath the cuff. You want the cuff to be over the upper part of your arm with the tubing leading down the centre or slightly to the right of your arm. Once you’ve positioned your arm correctly and put on the cuff, make sure to relax your body and to keep still and quiet, otherwise the accuracy of your reading might be affected.
- Whenever you’re ready, press the “on” button, followed by the “start” button. You’ll feel the cuff inflate quite rapidly. You may also feel slight discomfort as the cuff inflates and deflates automatically, but this will only be for a short period of time. If it becomes too uncomfortable for you, just press the “stop” button and the cuff will instantly deflate.
- Once you get your reading, record it.
- (Optional) Wait 5–10 minutes, then take your blood pressure again by repeating steps 2 to 6. This helps to make sure the readings you get are similar and accurate, and is especially useful if this is your first time taking your own blood pressure at home.
Blood pressure (BP) is given in two numbers:
- Systolic pressure – The pressure when your heart pushes blood out around your body
- Diastolic pressure – The pressure when your heart rests between beats and blood is pushed around your heart
The systolic pressure is always the highest number and it is always given first. For example, a blood pressure reading given as 120 over 80 or 120/80 means a systolic pressure of 120 and a diastolic pressure of 80.
You will need an at-home blood pressure monitor to take your own readings and use them to complete your contraceptive review. If you don’t have one yet, you can find a wide range of clinically-validated blood pressure monitors at most pharmacies and online.
Unable to take a reading at home? Book an appointment with us so we can help you do this in the practice.
