Dr. Caitriona Henchion:

On the first part of your question, we, as health professionals, and the HSE have a role in actively dispelling many of the myths about contraception. People will tell one that absolutely everything that has happened to them since the day they started taking the pill is related to the pill. We must actively say it is not from the pill, that it does not happen and give them the real information. There are other issues. One can meet somebody who never forgot her pill. Then she had a planned pregnancy and now that she has a toddler the pill must be put in the press with the door closed and she forgets to take it. It is recognising different things that occur in people's lives at different times. There are people who do a great deal of travelling for work. The pill is not ideal for them and one must talk to them about that. It is about having a holistic conversation at the start.

Also, when somebody comes for a check-up it is not just about the person's blood pressure and weight. One must ask, "Do you ever forget your pills?" or "Do you find it easy to remember to take it?" If she replies that she would never forget it or it happens once in a blue moon, that is fine, but she could reply that probably most months she will have at least a scare where she thinks she has forgotten it.

That is the time to have a conversation about whether something else is more appropriate and when one wants the choice to be there to switch to the most appropriate thing at the time.