Health Service Categories and Careers

A-Z OF SERVICES

Community Sexual and Reproductive Health Medicine encompasses knowledge and promotion of healthy sexual relationships, and the provision of sexual education, counselling, and other medical and support services which help with unplanned pregnancies, STIs, and physical and psychological issues relating to sexuality. Practice involves both a clinical and public health perspective, and consideration of individual, population, social, cultural, and interpersonal aspects. Clinical practice involves knowledge of microbial and immunological factors that contribute to STIs; expertise in handling sexual assault matters, and management of sexual dysfunction and fertility regulation or contraception. This area of medicine looks at identifying the sexual health needs of the community and seeks to minimise sexual health related problems through education, behaviour change, advocacy, targeted medical screening, diagnostic testing, service provision, research, surveillance and contact tracing of sexual partners to treat and contain spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Community Sexual and Reproductive Health Jobs

Physicians (Community Sexual and Reproductive Health) assess, diagnose, manage, treat and prevent sexual and reproductive health disorders and provide education, counselling, and other services which promote healthy sexual relationships and help to improve the sexual affecting individuals, couples, communities and populations. They gather patient histories and conduct physical examinations and other investigations, such as pathology or microbial screenings/tests for a range of viral/bacterial/fungal STIs, HIV and blood-borne viruses, as well as upper genital tract and non-infectious conditions like dermatitis or tumours. They provide clinical management and psychosocial support for patients who have conditions or concerns regarding sexuality, sexual function/dysfunction, reproductive health (including contraception or fertility), or who are victims of sexual assault. Treatment and management options include sexual health education and counselling, pharmacology to help manage symptoms and treat STIs, contact tracing/partner notification to reduce spread of infection, prescription of suitable contraceptives, and referrals for abortion, sterilisation and specialist care. Their role often extends into community practice and education, public health, and law and ethics. To pursue a career in this field of medicine, registered doctors who have completed foundation training can apply to undertake the Community Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CSRH) specialty training programme, which takes approximately 6 years to complete and leads to a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), Membership to the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (MFSRH) and entry onto the GMC specialty register.

Registrars (Community Sexual and Reproductive Health) are registered doctors who have completed their medical degree and foundation training and are undertaking training posts in Community Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CSRH). They are broadening and refining their scope of practice and gaining experience, skills and competency in their chosen area of medicine. Registrars are very important members of the integrated and multi-disciplinary health care team. They have increasing responsibility for patient care, oversee and support junior doctors and staff, participate in professional development activities and continue to receive important guidance, training, and support from senior staff. Registrars and doctors who have completed foundation training, and want to pursue a career in this field, can apply to the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (FSRH) to undertake the Community Sexual and Reproductive Health Specialty Training Programme (CSRH).