Women in Swindon prefer short-term contraceptive methods like condoms and the pill, figures reveal.

The British Association for Sexual Health and HIV said people should consider if their choices are protecting them from sexually transmitted infections as STI rates are rising.

NHS Digital data shows 3,590 women with a preferred main method of contraception attended a sexual health clinic in Swindon for it in 2018-19.

Of these, 51per cent opted for short-term, or user-dependent, contraception. The contraceptive pill remains the most used method for women in the area, with 42 per cent electing for it.

NHS guidelines say the pill is more than 99 per cent effective at preventing pregnancy if it's taken according to instructions.

Of the short-term options, 42 per cent were on the pill, compared to 44 per cent one year ago, and 8 per cent used condoms, up from 5 per cent in 2018.

In Swindon, 19 per cent of women said they were using the coil or intrauterine system that can last for five to 10 years as their main method of contraception, while 17 per cent opted for an implant that lasts three years and 13 per cent for an injection that lasts up to 13 weeks.

Dr Asha Kasliwal, president of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, said the 25% drop shows that women and girls appear to be “finding it harder and harder to access essential contraceptive services”.

“This is evidenced in worsening indicators in women’s reproductive health – almost half of pregnancies in Britain are unplanned or ambivalent. Abortion rates for women over 30 have been steadily increasing for the last 10 years,” Dr Kasliwal said.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “We have a strong track record on sexual health with teenage pregnancies at an all-time low. Contraception is the best way to avoid unintended pregnancy and we are pleased to see uptake of long-acting reversable contraceptives has increased.

“Prevention is at the heart of the NHS Long Term Plan, and comes alongside the £3 billion we are giving to councils to fund public health services this year, including sexual health services and school nurses.”