Since the advent of medical methods of contraception in the 1960s, it has been the practice to offer contraceptive advice to women on the postnatal wards. As time spent in hospital has become less, this advice is sometimes offered within hours of delivery! It is hardly surprising therefore that the presence of the well-meaning family [...]

The gradual progression of one of the most common female disorders, that of polycystic ovarian disease, with the occurrence of oligomenorrhoea and in some case hirsutes and weight gain compounds the whole problem. The resultant despondency can lead on to excessive eating, an altered body image and the attempted killing of all sexual attractiveness in [...]

Here it was easy for the adults, including the doctor, to take over and decide what was best. It may be that the nurse was less of an authority figure or that by suggesting a date, made the abortion suddenly seem imminent. However, the nurse let the girl know that her feelings were important. The [...]

The age of consent to sexual intercourse for a girl, at present, is 16 years in Great Britain. It is legally allowable to offer contraceptive advice without parental approval provided the following conditions are met. The doctor must encourage the girl to discuss the matter with her parents if she possibly can, there must be [...]

Miss C. became pregnant when she was 15 years old. She had been very disruptive at school and the staff were concerned about her home situation. Miss C. had an abortion under pressure from her mother. Attempts to get her to take the oral contraceptive pill failed and eventually she became pregnant again. This time [...]