TY - JOUR T1 - Tips for GP trainees working in family planning JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 52 LP - 54 DO - 10.3399/bjgp14X676618 VL - 64 IS - 618 AU - Julia Gallagher AU - Victoria Beattie AU - John Vrahimides Y1 - 2014/01/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/64/618/52.abstract N2 - A family planning post offers a unique and valuable opportunity to build confidence, knowledge, and skills that are essential during a career in general practice. Doctors may be expected to answer complicated queries about contraceptives and this can be challenging if experience of family planning is limited.Unfortunately gaining practical experience can be difficult. Contacting local faculty registered trainers and the regional family planning consultant is a sensible starting point when organising training.1. Always take a full medical history, blood pressure, and calculate body mass index. Offer chlamydia screening, condoms, and give advice about attending the local sexual health clinic if appropriate. Ensure cervical screening is up to date.2. The UK medical eligibility for contraceptive use (UKMEC)1 offers guidance on prescribing different methods of contraception in a variety of clinical situations.The four categories that relate to safe prescribing of contraception: UKMEC 1 ‘unrestricted use’UKMEC 2 ‘benefits outweigh risks’UKMEC 3 ‘risks outweigh benefits’UKMEC 4 ‘unacceptable health risk’It is important to take a holistic approach when multiple risk factors are combined. For example if an individual has several UKMEC2s, a doctor may consider that the risks outweigh the benefits when prescribing the combined contraceptive pill (that is, manage the patient as per UKMEC3 and above). In such cases it may be safer to prescribe a progestogen-only form of contraception.3. Ensure patients are not pregnant before commencing contraception.4. Doctors who hold moral reservations about any contraceptive method are still encouraged to undertake family planning training. Termination of pregnancy is separate from the regular provision of contraception and doctors can refer to colleagues if they are unable to provide care relating to a termination.5. When prescribing contraception, use a prompt to ensure all the necessary information is appropriately given and documented. The FPA … ER -