Girls as young as 10 receiving contraception from doctors

Girls as young as 10 are receiving contraception from Tayside doctors – but the numbers are falling, new figures have revealed.

Information released by NHS Tayside showed that a total of 2,666 contraceptive measures were prescribed to young women in 2016-17 – down from 3,045 in 2014-15.

The majority of the prescriptions were for the combined pill with 1,945 handed out last year, some for girls as young as 10.

Overall, the number of combined pills issued fell, as did the use of most other contraceptives such as patches, implants and injections.

However, the use of the progestogen-only pill, also known as the mini-pill, rose slightly, from 223 in 2014-15 to 255 last year.

Contraception is most commonly issued by NHS Tayside through primary care services such as GP surgeries or through the health board’s specialist sexual health service.

Measures are also used to manage menstrual problems, or following sexual assaults but the figures do not include details about why they were prescribed.

Doctors are legally permitted to provide contraception to under-16s without parental or guardian consent.

Ann Eriksen, executive lead for sexual health and blood-borne viruses with NHS Tayside, said: “All young women are assessed by a clinician before contraception can be prescribed.

“Where they are under 16, the assessment would include consideration of any child protection issues.”

In Tayside, anyone aged between 13 and 25 can get access to free condoms by registering for the C-card app.