No lockdown baby boom on horizon

NHS Lanarkshire are not expecting a Covid baby boom – despite distributing 60 per cent less contraceptives during lockdown.

Figures obtained under Freedom of Information laws revealed that between April and September, NHS services distributed 42,259 condoms across the county – down from 117,543 for the same period in 2019.

Most were given out through the established C Card Centres, Just Ask services andyoung People services.

However, 2760 were issued through the Condoms by Post service and community hubs set up in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

NHS Lanarkshire have said that the 64 per cent decrease in condoms given out doesn’t necessarily equate to a drop in usage, as they are also available from supermarkets and online retailers.

However, there was a slight increase in prescriptions for contraceptive pills during lockdown.

In the six months from

April to September, there were 1994 active prescriptions for contraceptives in Lanarkshire, compared with 1943 for the same period in 2019.

Cerazette is the most commonly used contraceptive pill and accounted for 1446 of those prescriptions in 2020 and 1291 in 2019.

An NHS Lanarkshire spokesperson said:“due to the reduction in access to public buildings during the period of lockdown, this may have contributed to the decrease in the uptake of condoms.

“However, this may not necessarily equate to a decrease in use, as condoms were accessible via supermarkets and online retail outlets during this time.”

Details of the condoms by post and contraceptive pill by post services are at: www.lanarkshiresexualhealth.org

For condoms by post service, telephone 07583 064 622.

For contraceptive pill by post service telephone 0300 303 0251.