Barrier contraceptives such as condoms are widely used to prevent pregnancy but they also have an important role in preventing the transfer of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Condoms are the only form of contraception that fully protects against STIs.

As a healthcare advisor you may be approached by patients wanting advice on which types of contraceptive would best suit them. The pharmacists should always be involved when a patient requires advice on oral contraception, but to enable you to understand the background to the the enquiry, you should be aware of the types of contraceptive methods available and their benefits.

The objectives of this module are:

• To learn about the different methods of contraception available
• To learn in more detail about the contraception methods available in pharmacy
• To understand the most common types of sexually transmitted infections