Adult Health

Women’s Health

Some links on this page have been colour coded to make it easier to find the information you need:

Quick Read
In-depth
Clinical level

LOCAL SUPPORT - SELF REFERRAL

There are number of local services which support contraception (including emergency contraception). Also look at the general information on contraception in the frequently asked questions. There is also local support for unplanned pregnancies. Click below:

Local support for emergency contraception

From Sexual Health Buckinghamshire
Explains emergency contraception and all the options, including a list of the community pharmacists who prescribe emergency hormonal contraception.
Emergency contraception Emergency Contraception | Sexual Health Bucks

“Community Pharmacies provide Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) in Buckinghamshire  – free for all women aged 13+. Please note for Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) you MUST call the pharmacy prior to attending to confirm the appropriate pharmacist is on duty.”

General information

Further explanation from the NHS on emergency contraception
Emergency contraception Emergency contraception – NHS
This includes

For Berkshire patients all options

From Safe Sex Berkshire
See on page box labelled ” Emergency contraception”, this links to a list of community pharmacists who can prescribe emergency hormonal contraception (free for a certain age group) and links to the local sexual health clinics  Home – Safe Sex Berkshire

FOR BUCKINGHAMSHIRE PATIENTS

From Sexual Health Buckinghamshire

  • Contraception (all forms including implants and IUDS)
    “Remember, for all forms of contraception you can self-refer to your local bSHaW Sexual Health Clinic or call to book an appointment. There is no need to see your GP first.”
    Contraception (includes where your closest clinic is) Contraception | Sexual Health Bucks
  • Free condoms
    There are various schemes for different ages which offer a free and confidential service to obtain free condoms. How Can I Get Free Condoms | Sexual Health Bucks
  • Repeat hormonal contraception
    Order repeat Oral Contraception Prescriptions (only available to women who have accessed the oral contraceptive pill from Bucks Sexual Health Service within the last year.) Repeat Oral Contraception Prescriptions | Sexual Health Bucks

CONTRACEPTION INFORMATION

For information on contraception to help you consider your options see the “Contraception information” section on this page.

FOR BERKSHIRE PATIENTS

From Safe Sex Berkshire

UNPLANNED PREGNANCY

From Sexual Health Buckinghamshire
If you are pregnant and need advice and options
Unplanned pregnancy advice Abortion/Termination of pregnancy | Sexual Health Bucks

From the NHS and Patient info
Abortion (Termination of Pregnancy)

From the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Information about abortion care Information about abortion care | RCOG

Find your NHS number

If you need your NHS number you can find it without needing to contact your GP practice.

How to find your NHS number
How to find you NHS number if you do not have access to a prescription or hospital letter Find your NHS number – NHS

Other support for women's health

 sexual health

There is both urgent and routine local support which can be accessed directly

Support with cervical screening

There is a section which includes a full explanation of the value and process of screening

pregnancy

There is good local and national support for pregnancy, most of which can be accessed without needing to go through your GP.

CONTRACEPTION INFORMATION

In this section current methods of contraception are covered providing information which takes into consideration stage of life, medical history, family history and medication history. The value and efficacy of the long-acting reversible contraceptive methods (so called LARCS which includes the implant, the IUS (Mirena), the copper coil and injection) are also well covered in all the articles.

Common questions

It is recommended you view the general patient level information in full, however there may be questions you want a very quick answer to and a few of these are included below.

Emergency contraception

This is covered in full in the local self referral section on this page, so please look there for further information and local support.

Missed pills and extra pills

The NHS explains this very well for all types of oral contraception
Questions about the pill (see under missed pills and extra pills) Your contraception guide – NHS

Diarrhoea or sickness

The NHS explains this in their article
What if I’m on the pill and I’m sick or have diarrhoea? What if I’m on the pill and I’m sick or have diarrhoea? – NHS

Patient level information on contraception

From University College London
Your contraception guide:
A very visual guide comparing the effectiveness of each contraception, also allowing you to choose what aspects of contraception are important to you and then giving you what contraception may fit your needs best (assuming no contraindications exist). Benefits and side effects are clearly laid out.

From Sexwise
Produced by the Family Planning Association
This is a simply laid out site with a clear visual presentation (including pictures of the different contraception options) which also allows you to compare options.
Contraception Contraception – Sexwise

From the NHS
Large guide, covering all aspects of contraception, including many of the questions you are likely to ask.

From Patient info
Under Sexual Health there is a whole section on contraception. The articles are more detailed including more on who cannot have some certain types of contraception (see under disadvantages for each category and in the more detailed leaflet e.g., combined pill “who cannot take the pill”). There are also some short feature articles in this section.
Information on contraception methods (Birth Control)
Sexual Health (see section Information on contraception methods (Birth Control)) Sexual Health | STIs and Contraception | Patient
Includes
Contraception Methods Contraception Methods | Birth Control Options | Patient
This includes all the methods of contraception with links to longer articles so for example:

Considers certain groups

clinical level information

From the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) UK MEC
“The UK MEC helps clinicians decide what contraceptives they can safely recommend based on the medical conditions of patients in their care. Funded by the FSRH and developed by our Clinical Effectiveness Unit, this key guidance is informed by robust and up-to-date evidence on when contraceptives can and cannot be safely used.”
How to access the FSRH UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (UK MEC) UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (UKMEC) – Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
Includes contraception for specific populations (e.g., young, after pregnancy, over 40 etc.), drug interactions, emergency contraception.
FSRH Guidelines & Statements FSRH Guidelines & Statements – Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare

From NICE

FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL INFORMATION

From the NHS, Patient info and NICE
Women’s Health: some common health questions

From the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Browse all patient information leaflets Browse all patient information leaflets | RCOG

From the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
This is an American website and may differ in certain areas from UK guidance but provides advice from a reputable source. Women’s Health | ACOG

From the Royal College of General Practitioners
Women’s health toolkit
The clinical toolkit resource has been created for primary healthcare professionals but includes under the resources for each topic links to information, such as the NHS website, which can be helpful for patients.
Home page Women’s health toolkit: Introduction | RCGP Learning

PERIOD PROBLEMS

From the NHS

From the NHS and NICE
Delayed periods (and no periods)

Period pain

Heavy periods

Irregular periods and stopped or missed periods

PMS (premenstrual syndrome)

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Endometriosis

From Patient info
Information on Periods and Period Problems section in Women’s health Women’s Health | Breast Cancer, Menopause and Period Concerns | Patient

From NICE

From the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
This is an American website and may differ in certain areas from UK guidance but provides advice from a reputable source.
Menstrual Health Resources for You | ACOG

Endometriosis support

From Endometriosis UK
Get support : “Our Support Network is here to offer those affected by endometriosis the support and information they need to understand the condition and take control.”

Premenstrual syndrome

From the National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome
Provide helpful information About PMS | NAPS – National Association for Premenstrual Syndromes

URINE INFECTION

As the NHS suggests
“Smelly pee on its own is not usually a cause for concern. There are often things you can do to help your pee return to normal.” Smelly urine – NHS

From the NHS, The British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) and NICE
Urinary tract infection

How to collect a urine sample

From Patient info
Midstream Specimen of Urine Midstream Specimen of Urine (MSU) | Urine Analysis Test | Patient

What are the symptoms and signs of a very serious infection when I should call 999 for hospital admission?

See under Spotting sepsis

URINARY INCONTINENCE

From BAUS (The British Association of Urological Surgeons)
I think I might have Urinary incontinence Incontinence of urine | The British Association of Urological Surgeons Limited

From the NHS

From Patient info
The urinary incontinence is a good overview article

From NICE
Urinary incontinence Incontinence – urinary, in women | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE

From the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)
Includes a number of useful factsheets on pelvic floor health Leaflets – Your Pelvic Floor

From The British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS)
Information on common procedures: I’m told I need…… “I’m told I need…” | The British Association of Urological Surgeons Limited

Overview

From Patient info
Information on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Women (LUTS) section in Women’s health Women’s Health | Breast Cancer, Menopause and Period Concerns | Patient

PELVIC PAIN        

From the NHS

From the NHS and NICE
Pelvic inflammatory disease

From Patient info
Information on Pelvic Pain in Women, section in Women’s health Women’s Health | Breast Cancer, Menopause and Period Concerns | Patient

VAGINAL DISCHARGE

See under

VAGINAL DISCOMFORT

From the NHS

From Patient info
Vaginal Dryness -Atrophic Vaginitis Vaginal Dryness (Atrophic Vaginitis) | Causes and Treatment | Patient

vulval problems

From Patient info

From NICE
Pruritus vulvae Pruritus vulvae | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE

Vulval pain

From the Vulval Pain Society
Get Support includes helpful advice Get support – The Vulval Pain Society

breast symptoms

From the NHS

From Patient info
Breast Pain Breast Pain (Sore Boobs) | Cyclical and Non Cyclical | Patient

From NICE

MENOPAUSE

From the NHS
Early Menopause

From NHS choices, Patient info and NICE
Menopause

Hormone replace therapy

From Patient info
Information on Menopause section in Women’s health Women’s Health | Breast Cancer, Menopause and Period Concerns | Patient

From Menopause Matters
Note the menu is on the right side

From the Royal College of General PractitionersWomen’s health toolkit
The clinical toolkit resource has been created for primary healthcare professionals but includes under the resources for each topic links to information, such as the NHS website, which can be helpful for patients.

From the British Menopause Society

Post-menopausal bleeding

From the NHS

PROLAPSE

From the NHS and Patient info
Pelvic organ prolapse

Trying to get pregnant

From the NHS
Trying to get Trying to get pregnant – NHS

Infertility

From the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA)
Impartial, accurate information about IVF, clinics and other fertility treatments from the UK government fertility regulator HFEA: UK fertility regulator | HFEA

Broad support for women's health

Women’s physical health can on occasions be impacted by mental health and the social side of life. There is good local and national support in these areas and a summary with relevant links can be found under

Videos and podcasts

On the videos and podcasts page there are links to some relevant videos and podcasts covering the topic of female health.

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