Family Planning has developed guidance for clinicians about the provision of contraception during a pandemic lockdown.

National Medical Advisor Dr Beth Messenger says the guidance is based on guidelines developed by the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health in the United Kingdom – but have been adapted to suit New Zealand contraception usage and availability.

“There will be ongoing need for contraception during the lockdown, just as there is during any other emergency, and we hope our guidance will be of assistance to GPs and others who are not regularly prescribing contraception,” Dr Messenger says.

“People are concerned about managing pregnancy risk and we want to support our clinical colleagues to provide these services, especially when we know many of them will be working as we are, offering services remotely.  They can be reassured that providing progestogen only pill is a really safe option within minimal assessment for the majority of women.”