MONDAY marks the start of the first Contraceptive Awareness Week - and its main theme is aimed at getting men more involved in contraceptive planning.

North Cheshire Health Promotion Service and Warrington Community Health Care (NHS) Trust are mounting a campaign to make men more aware of their responsibilities and the part they can play in making sex safe.

The Trust has two Family Planning Consultants, Dr Vicki Smith based at the Garven Place clinic in Sankey Street, Warrington, and Dr Linda Hawkes, based in Widnes.

When it comes to sexual health and especially contraception, men are widely regarded as being 'hard to reach.' Low uptake of services is often interpreted as lack of demand - which, in turn, is taken to mean that men do not want to be involved or share responsibility.

Contraceptive Awareness Week sets out to challenge this, both by showing that there are men prepared to accept responsibility for safeguarding sexual health and by changing those who are not.

Dr Smith said the Pill had made a big difference to the lives of women since the 1960s.

She said: "Many people owe their lifestyle today to the ability to control family size easily.

"Of course, there is not just the Pill. There is a wide range of choice from coils and caps to implants and injections. A large proportion of women taking the Pill obtain it from their family doctor but it is important that community clinics continue to offer choice and expertise for all aspects of sexual health care.

"Emergency contraception is available from doctors and clinics and men can obtain condoms and advice free from community clinics."

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