Over-the-counter advice for genital problems: the role of the community pharmacist

This year, in the UK, levonorgestrel was approved for sale in pharmacies fo r emergency contraception. This study assessed, using a postal questionnair e, the ability of community pharmacists to provide advice relating to sexua l health, their comfort and training in this area, and their knowledge of l ocal genitourinary medicine (GUM) services. Fifty-four per cent of pharmaci sts responded. Most (79%) did not know where their nearest GUM department w as; only 21% had ever advised a patient to attend a GUM clinic. Twenty-nine per cent said they were not able to broach the possibility of a sexually t ransmitted infection (STI) with a patient of both sexes. Forty-four per cen t had received training related to postcoital contraception. Greater liaiso n between GUM departments and community pharmacists is suggested as a way o f increasing the proportion of patients presenting to a pharmacist who are referred appropriately to a GUM clinic.