RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Contraception in Person-Contraception Online (CiP-CO) cohort study JF BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health JO BMJ Sex Reprod Health FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group SP bmjsrh-2021-201168 DO 10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201168 A1 Emma Rezel-Potts A1 Melissa J Palmer A1 Caroline J Free A1 Hannah McCulloch A1 Paula Baraitser YR 2021 UL http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/early/2021/08/26/bmjsrh-2021-201168.abstract AB Background Online contraception services increasingly provide information, clinical assessment and home-delivered oral contraceptives (OCs). Evidence is lacking on the effects of online contraceptive service use on short-term contraceptive continuation.Methods Cohort study comparing contraceptive continuation between new users of a free-to-access online OC service in South East London with those from other, face-to-face services in the same area. Online questionnaires collected data on participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, motivations for OC access, service ratings, OC knowledge and contraceptive use. Contraceptive use in the 4-month study period was measured using health service records. Unadjusted and multivariable logistic regression models compared outcomes between the online service group and those using other services.Results Online service-users (n=138) were more likely to experience short-term continuation of OCs compared with participants using other services (n=98) after adjusting for sociodemographic and other characteristics (adjusted OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.52 to 5.70). Online service-users rated their service more highly (mean 25.22, SD 3.77) than the other services group (mean 22.70, SD 4.35; p<0.001), valuing convenience and speed of access. Among progestogen-only pill users, knowledge scores were higher for the online group (mean 4.83, SD 1.90) than the other services group (mean 3.87, SD 1.73; p=0.007). Among combined oral contraceptive users, knowledge scores were similar between groups.Conclusions Free-to-access, online contraception has the potential to improve short-term continuation of OCs. Further research using a larger study population and analysis of longer-term outcomes are required to understand the impact of online services on unintended pregnancy.Data are available upon reasonable request. The study data are available upon reasonable request. Requests for access should be addressed to the corresponding author at emma.rezel-potts@kcl.ac.uk.