RAG rating
n/a
Document type
Primary Care prescribing resource
Place
Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB
Output type
Pharmacy / Prescribing

Oral contraceptive formulary recommendations

Local oral contraceptive formulary recommendations for community pharmacists providing the Pharmacy Contraception Service (PCS)


Background and rationale:


·        The PCS (commissioned by the NHS as an Advanced service) started on 24th April 2023, allowing the on-going supply of oral contraception (OC) from community pharmacies. From 1st December 2023, the service included both initiation and on-going supply of OC.

·        The PCS supports the important role community pharmacy teams can play to help address health inequalities by providing wider healthcare access in their communities and signposting service users to local sexual health services in line with NICE guideline NG 102.

·        As per the Community Pharmacy advanced service specification for the NHS Pharmacy Contraception Service, to help protect NHS resources, wherever practicable, pharmacy contractors should supply the best value product to meet the clinical need of the patient.   

·        This guide has been produced to support community pharmacists initiating oral contraceptives as part of the PCS.

·        The recommendations below are in line with current formulary positions across the ICB. Where the recommendations below are unsuitable for the patient, community pharmacists to use their clinical discretion regarding contraceptive choice.

·        An updated ICB wide contraceptive guideline is being prepared and will be shared across the system when available.


Recommendations:

Combined oral contraception (supplies should be branded):

Standard strength:

·        1stLine: Brevinor®(35micrograms ethinylestradiol & 500micrograms norethisterone)

·        2ndLine: Levest® (30micrograms ethinylestradiol & 150 micrograms levonorgestrel)

Low strength:

·        1stLine: Gedarel® (20micrograms ethinylestradiol & 150 micrograms desogestrel)

·        2ndLine: Bimizza® (20micrograms ethinylestradiol & 150microgram desogestrel)

Progesterone only contraception (supplies should be generic):

·        1stLine: Desogestrel 75 micrograms

·        2ndLine: Norethisterone 350 micrograms


Further information can be found at the following page: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-pharmacy-contraception-service/

 

NB: The Patient Group Direction for supply of combined oral contraception or progesterone only contraception for the Pharmacy Contraception Service should be followed at all times.

Version number
1.0
Developed by
HWE ICB
Approved by
Medicines Optimisation and Delivery Group (MODIG)
Date approved / updated
October 2024
Review date
This HWE ICB recommendation is based upon the evidence available at the time of publication. This recommendation will be reviewed upon request in the light of new evidence becoming available.
Superseded version
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