Mrs B. stopped abruptly at the door of the consulting room and announced, ‘Do I have to see so many people? I’ve only come to see one doctor.’ The doctor and nurse in training looked embarrassed. The instructing doctor suppressed her irritation that valuable teaching material might be lost, but knew that her patient’s wishes [...]

Interrupting sex to put on a condom is a problem, and not only for the young. Some older men enjoy prolonged lovemaking during which their erection comes and goes. Deciding when to put it on is stressful. It is difficult getting them on the right way round in the dark. Some flavoured or fun varieties [...]

All counselling should be nonjudgemental. Perhaps it is never more important than in this situation when the patient with an unplanned pregnancy may already be feeling guilty or expecting disapproval. Patients may be distressed, angry or abusive. The feelings may be very intense and directed at clinic staff. It is important to acknowledge and try [...]

Some young women, particularly those who are very health conscious, like the idea of the diaphragm, with 1.6% of new patients and 2.9% of old patients choosing it at the Birmingham Brook Advisory Centre in 1989 to 1990. It does have the advantage of providing some anti-viral effect by means of the spermicide, but as [...]

The impression may have been given that nothing can be done for such families. While this is true for some, it is not for all provided that a trusting, reliable and supportive relationiship can be created between the doctor and/or nurse and the patient. However, it can take many years to establish such a relationship, [...]