#PlanAfter: Making contraception part of every pregnancy journey
#PlanAfter: Making contraception part of every pregnancy journey
"Even as a healthcare professional working in maternity services, I struggled to access the contraception I wanted after pregnancy." – PPC Focus Group participant, June 2026.
If someone working within the system can find it difficult to access timely contraception, what does that mean for everyone else? That question sits at the heart of the London Sexual Health Programme's #PlanAfter campaign, designed to improve post-pregnancy contraception across the capital.
Reimagining Post-Pregnancy Contraception
Post-pregnancy contraception (PPC) is one of the most effective interventions for supporting reproductive choice, improving maternal health outcomes and reducing unintended pregnancy. Yet, like much of the UK, access to PPC remains inconsistent across London, often depending on where someone lives, which services they encounter and how local pathways are organised. It’s a “postcode lottery”.
Recognising this challenge, the London Sexual Health Programme (LSHP) has brought together clinicians, commissioners, public health professionals, voluntary sector organisations and people with lived experience to explore how London can build a more consistent, equitable and sustainable approach to PPC.
Moving from a single conversation to a whole pathway
A key message emerging from this work is that post-pregnancy contraception should not be viewed as a one-off discussion after childbirth. Instead, it should be considered part of a wider reproductive health journey that begins before pregnancy and continues long afterwards. Crucially, this includes support following all pregnancy outcomes, including birth, abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth and pregnancy loss.
LSHP is proposing a five-phase framework covering:
Pre-pregnancy
During pregnancy
At the point of pregnancy outcome
Early recovery
Ongoing care and follow-up
This approach recognises that people are ready to discuss contraception at different times and that support should be available throughout the reproductive journey.
The challenges facing London
London's diversity is one of its greatest strengths, but it also highlights inequalities in access to care. Too often, people are left trying to navigate the healthcare system alone, leading to confusion around who and where can provide contraception. This inconsistency can be frustrating at a time when people may be recovering from a birth, abortion, miscarriage or pregnancy loss.
Underserved communities, including young parents, migrant populations and those affected by deprivation or language barriers, often face additional challenges.
Current pathways are often designed around maternity services, which can inadvertently leave gaps for people accessing abortion care or experiencing miscarriage and pregnancy loss. Creating a more inclusive system means ensuring everyone can access timely contraception support, regardless of where they enter the healthcare system.
Feedback from service users shows that even people who are highly informed, or indeed work in the sector, can struggle to navigate contraception services. The issue is not a lack of knowledge but a system that is often difficult to access and understand.
LSHP's ambition for integrated PPC access
The ambition is not simply to create new services but to connect and strengthen those that already exist. LSHP is exploring how maternity services, sexual health services, primary care, pharmacies, community settings and digital platforms can work together to provide seamless access to contraception.
Digital services, including SHL.UK, could play an important role in supporting access and continuity of care, alongside face-to-face services. The aim is to create a system with multiple entry points, giving people choice while reducing the need to navigate complex pathways.
Lessons for the rest of the country
While this work is focused on London, many of the challenges are shared nationally.
One of the most important lessons emerging from London's work is the need to broaden how we think about PPC. Historically, services have often focused on the postnatal period, yet contraception is equally relevant following abortion, miscarriage and other pregnancy outcomes. A truly person-centred approach recognises that reproductive healthcare extends beyond maternity services and ensures that everyone can access information and support at a time that is right for them.
The key findings emerging from London's work include earlier conversations, multiple opportunities to access support, digital integration, stronger links between services and meaningful involvement of people with lived experience. This offers a strong model that could be adapted across England.
Looking ahead
LSHP's next step is to develop an integrated PPC model that brings together maternity, digital and community-based provision, supported by ongoing engagement with communities, clinicians and commissioners. The goal is clear: to ensure that everyone can access the information and contraception support they need, when they need it, regardless of where they live or which service they first encounter.
By improving PPC, London has an opportunity not only to improve outcomes for women and families across the capital, but also to develop a blueprint that could help shape more equitable reproductive healthcare
Every pregnancy journey is different. Plan for after.
While we work behind the scenes redesigning services, we know it is equally important to raise awareness among the public. #PlanAfter is a London-wide campaign and engagement initiative led by the LSHP to improve awareness of, and access to, post-pregnancy contraception across the capital. The campaign will gather lived experience insights from people following all pregnancy outcomes and use these to inform service improvement, commissioning and pathway development. Alongside this, a dedicated #PlanAfter Instagram page (launching on 1st September) will share evidence-based information, lived experience stories and information about contraception after pregnancy, helping to raise awareness and encourage conversations among both the public and healthcare professionals.
If you would like to share your experience or find out more about the #PlanAfter programme, please contact planafter@cityoflondon.gov.uk and follow @planafterlondon on Instagram and Facebook.
Have Your Say – PPC Consultation Paper
Our Post-Pregnancy Contraception Consultation Paper sets out the challenges, opportunities and ideas emerging from engagement with communities, clinicians and system partners. Now we'd like your feedback.
Read the Consultation Paper and access the feedback form here
Together, we can help shape a more equitable approach to post-pregnancy contraception for people across London and beyond.