Screening oral contraceptive candidates and inconsequential pelvic examinations

Among 1,201 women who requested oral contraceptives (OCs) at a large London family planning clinic between 1 January 1971 and 9 March 1971, 51 (5 percent) were initially denied this method because of contraindications discovered by medical histories and examinations. Twenty-four of the 51 women received OCs at subsequent visits, raising the overall proportion receiving OCs to 97.4 percent. Initial screening procedures detected 44 contraindications by medical history, six by blood pressure determination, one by breast examination, and none by pelvic examination. Examination by a physician did not appear to be essential in the screening process at this clinic.