MEET THE TEAM
We are a multi-disciplinary team made up of members from across the world. We started as a small research group within the Buchanan Institute at the University of Edinburgh, and have now grown to 60+ members spanning across both our branches in Edinburgh and Glasgow. We have followed our shared passion for reforming current contraceptive healthcare in Scotland and work to produce research-based change to better our community in Scotland.
COMMITTEE
The committee oversees the organisational strategy, vision and direction of CERT. We discuss the outputs of each of CERT’s teams and collaboratively create solutions to any issues that may arise alongside setting goals for future projects.
This year, we have been working on our ‘Make Stealthing Illegal’ campaign and laying the foundations for a second CERT branch in Glasgow. It’s wonderful to work so closely with such passionate, determined and all round brilliant humans!
Outreach is responsible for all external communications and CERT’s public-facing presence. We research, create and manage CERT’s social media to disseminate our core messages in a creative and accessible way. We collaborate with other related organisations to champion the diversity of voices in the contraceptive and sexual health field.
OUTREACH
Campaigns are responsible for progressing CERT’s campaign recommendations. This year we have worked on ‘Make Stealthing Illegal’; turning a research paper with a recommendation to explicitly criminalise stealthing into roundtable discussions and meetings with MSPs; a petition with over 500 signatures; extensive research and planning as to the best political route; legal, political and media contacts; and plans to begin a bill, host a launch event and release radio programmes this summer.
CAMPAIGNS
The Events & Fundraising team is responsible for organising events to promote CERT, collaborate with organisations that align with our core values, connect to the wider Edinburgh community, and raise money for charitable initiatives. This year we ran a round table discussion event at Peanut Press Cafe, a creative workshop at August 21 Cafe in collaboration with Clitbait Zine, and several CERT member socials.
The most rewarding event we ran in 2022 was the ‘Gossip Ball’ at the Caves in April in collaboration with Girls Against, Girl Up Edinburgh, Sanitree, Sexpression, and Edinburgh University Feminist Society. We hosted 200 guests, raised over £2000 for Shakti Women’s Aid, and had a fabulous time! In April we also launched CERT Glasgow and held a launch event with live music and poetry performances, in support of Glasgow Women’s Aid.
FUNDRAISING
& EVENTS
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH
MORNING AFTER PILL
The Morning After Pill Project is researching how education about emergency oral contraception could be made more effective in Scotland. More specifically, we are looking into how Scottish Secondary schools engage with this in sex education, and how they could improve. Ultimately, we will make recommendations for changes in Scottish school curricula to include a more comprehensive and accurate explanation of emergency oral contraception. We hope to end stigma and misconceptions around the Morning After Pill.
The Libido Project is examining how hormonal contraceptive methods affect libido. We are aiming to understand the different experiences of pill users and combine our knowledge to produce a comprehensive policy paper that can influence better informed decision making by all parties.
IMPACT OF CONTRACEPTION ON LIBIDO
BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
SECONDARY USES
OF CONTRACEPTION
We are looking at the various non-contraceptive uses of hormonal contraception. We are examining the social and scientific ideas which have led to hormonal contraceptives being used to ‘treat’ many gynaecological and hormonal conditions. Currently we are writing our literature review and discussing the lack of research into why people suffer from
certain gynaecological conditions, something which we feel would allow more appropriate treatments to emerge, helping the root cause of hormonal problems, such as PCOS, Endometriosis, hormonal Migraines and menorrhagia.
We are excited to move into the next phase of our research which will involve speaking to the public and targeted groups about their experiences with gynaecological diseases and the prescription of hormonal contraceptives.
The Mental Health Research Team works to explore whether there is a clear link between mental health well-being and contraceptive use, specifically hormonal contraceptives. Our research is taken from a biomedical perspective but considers the personal experience of users, as well. Through this research, we hope to expand on existing information surrounding the topic and determine whether or not mental ill health should be listed as a side effect so contraceptive users can make more informed decisions around their contraceptive choices.
LONGTERM IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH
People who produce sperm, or spermers, have only two contraceptive options: condoms and vasectomy. Either they choose to protect themselves at the time of having sex or stop being fertile —there are no in-betweens or long-lasting reversible options. Of the ten non-barrier contraception methods NHS Scotland has available, none are designed for people who identify as cis-men (widely referred to as male contraception).
Involving men in contraception is one of the approaches we can use to fight against poverty and gender inequality. This would not only reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancies but the cost of sexual health maintenance. In the long-term, inclusive and shared birth control could diminish the idea that child care is a ‘female-only’ responsibility.
Our research is focused on understanding the potential contraceptive options for spermers, their effectiveness, safety, accessibility, and their likeliness to contribute to maintaining more equitable reproductive health.
EXPLORATION OF MALE CONTRACEPTIVE OPTIONS
The Queer Experiences of Contraception Project is researching experiences of contraception and STI-prevention among sexual minorities, more specifically queer women, trans and non-binary people. We aim to fill gaps in the research and guidelines relating to these underserved groups, since sexual health information has tended to focus on heterosexual people and cisgender men who have sex with men. We are seeking to understand the heterogeneity of contraceptive and STI-prevention experiences among overlapping groups of queer people. Ultimately, we will make recommendations on how these diverse experiences can inform healthcare policy to promote queer sexual health."