Women's health toolkit: References and resources | RCGP Learning

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This Women’s health toolkit is categorised into sections best representing the needs of women at different stages of their lives.

In August 2025, the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) became an independent college, the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH). Where you see FSRH in any of our courses, please read it as CoSRH – updates will be made to the name at the next routine review of each course.

References and resources

RCGP eLearning

• Abortion in Primary Care

• Antenatal care: eLearning

• Antiphospholipid syndrome

• Bloating and Other Abdominal Symptoms: Could it be Ovarian Cancer?

• Breast cancer prevention CyP

• Breast Cancer Screening – the Essentials

• Cervical Screening Update

• Contraception

• Early diagnosis of endometrial and cervical cancer

• Gynaecology and Women’s Health Hub

• Heavy menstrual bleeding

• HRT and breast cancer risk CyP

• Lactational atrophic vulvovaginitis

• Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP)

• Over the counter treatment of the menopause CyP

• Perinatal mental health

• Pregnancy loss and child bereavement

• Sexual and reproductive needs of the LGBT community

• Sexual health in primary care

• Vulval cancer

• What is the best method for managing early miscarriage?

• Women’s Health Library

Other RCGP resources

• RCGP curriculum guide. Gynaecology and breast.

• RCGP. GP curriculum.

• RCGP. Confidentiality and young people toolkit. 2014.

British Menopause Society

• British Menopause Society. BMS Consensus Statements.

• BMS Tools for clinicians.

FSRH

• CoSRH UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use. 2016.

• CoSRH Contraceptive counselling free online course.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Combined Hormonal Contraception. October 2023.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Progestogen-only Pills. July 2023.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Progestogen-only Implant. July 2023.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Progestogen-only Injectable. July 2023.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Intrauterine contraception. July 2023.

• CoRH Clinical Guideline: Barrier Methods for Contraception and STI Prevention. October 2015.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Male and Female Sterilisation. September 2014.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Contraception for Women Aged over 40 Years. July 2023.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Contraceptive Choices for Young People. May 2019.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Emergency Contraception. July 2023.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Quick Starting Contraception. April 2017.

• CoSRH CEU Guidance: Drug Interactions with Hormonal Contraception. May 2022.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Contraception After Pregnancy. October 2020.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Fertility Awareness Methods. June 2015.

• CoSRH CEU Guidance: Supporting Contraceptive Choices for Individuals Who Have or Have Had Breast Cancer. November 2023.

• CoSRH Clinical Guideline: Problematic Bleeding with Hormonal Contraception. July 2015.

NICE CKS pages

• NICE CKS. Antenatal care – uncomplicated pregnancy. February 2023.

• NICE CKS. Breast cancer – managing FH. December 2018.

• NICE CKS. Cervical Cancer and HPV. February 2022.

• NICE CKS. Chlamydia – uncomplicated genital. April 2022.

• NICE CKS. Contraception – assessment. July 2023.

• NICE CKS. Depression – antenatal and postnatal. April 2022.

• NICE CKS. Dysmenorrhoea. October 2023.

• NICE CKS. Endometriosis. October 2023.

• NICE CKS. Fibroids. July 2022.

• NICE CKS. Gonorrhoea. August 2022.

• NICE CKS. Herpes simplex – genital. January 2023.

• NICE CKS. HIV infection and AIDS. May 2021.

• NICE CKS. Hypertension in pregnancy. May 2022.

• NICE CKS. Infertility. July 2023.

• NICE CKS. Menopause. September 2022.

• NICE CKS. Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding). March 2023.

• NICE CKS. Miscarriage. October 2023.

• NICE CKS. Ovarian cancer. August 2023.

• NICE CKS. Polycystic ovary syndrome. July 2023.

• NICE CKS. Premenstrual syndrome. May 2019.

• NICE CKS. Pruritus vulvae. October 2022.

• NICE CKS. Syphilis. December 2019.

• NICE CKS. Trichomoniasis. November 2023.

• NICE CKS. Warts – anogenital. November 2022.

• NICE CKS scenario. Antenatal care-uncomplicated pregnancy. February 2023.

NICE guidelines

• NICE NG201. Antenatal care. August 2021.

• NICE NG73. Endometriosis: diagnosis and management. September 2017.

• NICE CG164. Familial breast cancer: classification, care and managing breast cancer and related risks in people with a family history of breast cancer. November 2023.

• NICE CG156. Fertility problems: assessment and treatment. September 2017.

• NICE NG88. Heavy menstrual bleeding: assessment and management.

• NICE CG30. Long-acting reversible contraception. July 2019.

• NICE NG23. Menopause: diagnosis and management. December 2019.

• NICE PH38. Type 2 diabetes: prevention in people at high risk. September 2017.

• NICE NG123. Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women: management. June 2019.

• NICE PH27. Weight management before, during and after pregnancy. July 2010.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• GP infant feeding network. Galactogogues. October 2019.

• Specialist pharmacy service. The principles of prescribing in pregnancy. July 2021.

• Specialist pharmacy service. Questions to ask when giving advice on medicines and breastfeeding. December 2020.

• The breastfeeding network. Drugs in breastmilk factsheets.

• UK teratology information service. Best use of medicines in pregnancy. 2023.

• UK teratology information service. Evidence-based safety information about medication, vaccine, chemical and radiological exposures in pregnancy.

RCOG, RCPsych, RCoA and RCPCH resources

• RCOG. About mesh.

• RCOG. Green-top guideline no 34. The Management of Ovarian Cysts in Postmenopausal Women. July 2016.

• RCOG Green top guideline no 53. Female Genital Mutilation and its Management. July 2015.

• RCOG. Green-top guideline no 62. Management of Suspected Ovarian Masses in Premenopausal Women. 2011.

• RCOG. Managing premenstrual syndrome. March 2018.

• RCOG. Pelvic organ prolapse. 2013.

• RCOG. Treatment for symptoms of the menopause.

• RCPsych. Postpartum psychosis for carers. November 2018.

• RCPsych. Perinatal mental health services: recommendations for the provision of services for childbearing women. 2021.

• RCPCH. Safeguarding guidance for children and young people under 18 accessing early medical abortion services.

• Royal College of Anaesthetists. Bulletin. As we were – the obstetric flying squad. January 2020.

Primary care women’s health forum

• Primary care women’s health forum. Patient pathways. September 2023.

• PCWHF. Conservative management of prolapse. Competency framework for primary care.

• Rock my menopause.

• Primary care women’s health forum. Guidance on management and prescribing HRT for GPs.

ESHRE

• European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Endometriosis. 2022.

• European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. International evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). 2023.

Patient support groups/charities and patient information leaflets

• Barnardo’s. Female genital mutilation.

• Child Bereavement UK.

• Contraception choices. Contraceptive methods.

• Daisy network.

• Endometriosis UK.

• Menopause Matters.

• Metropolitan police. FGM support organisations.

• Mind. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. August 2021.

• NAPS

• NSPCC. Female genital mutilation.

• Rock my menopause.

• Sands

• Tommy’s. Your rights and benefits after a stillbirth. February 2022.

• Tommy’s. What happens if I’m pregnant over the age of 40? September 2020.

• Women’s Health Concern.

• Women’s Health Concern. Period pain. November 2022.

Government publications and web pages

• Department for Education. How the Period Products Scheme is removing barriers in education. September 2023.

• Department of Health and Social Care. Women's Health Strategy for England. August 2022.

• Department of Health and Social Care. FGM: mandatory reporting in healthcare. January 2017.

• Department of Health and Social Care. Women’s health hubs: core specification. July 2023.

• Medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency. Off-label or unlicensed use of medicines: prescribers’ responsibilities. December 2014.

• Public Health England. Health of women before and during pregnancy: health behaviours, risk factors and inequalities. 2019.

• UK Health Security Agency. Sexually transmitted infections and screening for chlamydia in England: 2022 report. October 2023.

NHS

• NHS Better Health. Start for life.

• NHS. HPV vaccine. September 2023.

• NHS. Vaginal cancer. Causes. November 2023.

• NHS. Antiphospholipid syndrome – diagnosis. June 2022.

• NHS. Pelvic organ prolapse. 2021.

NHS England

• NHS England. NHS sets ambition to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. November 2023.

• NHS England. Female genital mutilation. A guide for healthcare professionals.

• NHS England. Mesh working group.

Cancer Research UK

• Cancer Research UK. Fallopian tube cancer.

• Cancer Research UK. Women’s cancers (gynaecological cancer).

Other resources and references

• BASHH. UK National Guideline for consultations requiring sexual history taking. 2019.

• BMA. The law and ethics of abortion. BMA views. March 2023.

• British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy. All accredited endometriosis centres.

• British Society of Urogynaecology. Mesh information leaflets.

• MBRRACE-UK. Lessons learned to inform maternity care from the UK and Ireland Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2019-21. October 2023.

• Medical Protection. Abortion Act amendments – what they mean for you. September 2022.

• Menstrual health coalition. Heavy menstrual bleeding – breaking silence and stigma. 2020.

• Personalised care institute. Shared decision making. November 2020.

• Plan International UK. Break the barriers: girls’ experiences of menstruation in the UK. June 2018.

• Saint Mary’s Managed Clinical Service. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. Pathway guide – ovarian cysts.

• United Kingdom continence society. UK Clinical Guideline for best practice in the use of vaginal pessaries for pelvic organ prolapse. 2021.

• World Health Organization. Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative.

Academic papers

• Dixon S, Ranger TA, Burchardt J et al. Exploring the interface between adolescent dysmenorrhoea and endometriosis: a protocol for a cohort and nested case-control study within the QResearch Database. BMJ Open. 2023 Feb 14;13(2):e069984.

• Dutton B, Kai J. Women's experiences of heavy menstrual bleeding and medical treatment: a qualitative study in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 2023 Mar 30;73(729):e294-e301.

• Edwards SK, Bates CM, Lewis F, Sethi G, Grover D. 2014 UK national guideline on the management of vulval conditions. Int J STD AIDS. 2015 Aug;26(9):611-24

• Falcaro M, Castañon A, Ndlela B et al. The effects of the national HPV vaccination programme in England, UK, on cervical cancer and grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia incidence: a register-based observational study. Lancet. 2021 Dec 4;398(10316):2084-2092.

• Keeling D, Mackie I, Moore GW et al; British Committee for Standards in Haematology. Guidelines on the investigation and management of antiphospholipid syndrome. Br J Haematol. 2012 Apr;157(1):47-58.

• Kiran A, Geary RS, Gurol-Urganci I, et al. Sociodemographic differences in symptom severity and duration among women referred to secondary care for menorrhagia in England and Wales: a cohort study from the National Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Audit. BMJ Open 2018;8:e018444.

• Lee SI, Azcoaga-Lorenzo A, Agrawal U et al, MuM-PreDiCT Group. Epidemiology of pre-existing multimorbidity in pregnant women in the UK in 2018: a population-based cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Feb 11;22(1):120

• Lewis FM, Tatnall FM, Velangi SS et al. British Association of Dermatologists guidelines for the management of lichen sclerosus, 2018. Br J Dermatol. 2018 Apr;178(4):839-853.

• Maughan BC, Marin M, Han J et al. Venous Thromboembolism During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period: Risk Factors, Diagnostic Testing, and Treatment. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2022 Jul;77(7):433-444.