Sharon Cameron

University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Professor Sharon Cameron is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Professor at the University of Edinburgh. She is a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH). She has extensive clinical research experience in contraception, emergency contraception and abortion. She collaborates with clinicians, researchers, policy makers, patients and public to conduct and evaluate initiatives to improve women’s sexual and reproductive health.
Her research has led to improved access to contraception after pregnancy in the UK, informed guidelines in this area and supported the roll out of antenatal contraceptive counselling and provision of postpartum contraception from maternity services. She undertook clinical trials with emergency contraception that supported the European Medicine Agency’s decision to make it available over the counter from pharmacies in the European Union. Professor Cameron’s research on self-administration of the progestogen only injectable supported the approval of this in the UK for home self-administration. The publication of the ‘Bridge-it study’ in the Lancet in 2020, provided support for pharmacist provision of the progestogen only pill along with emergency contraception as part of routine care. This study also informed regulatory change to make the progestogen only pill available over the counter from the pharmacy in the UK. Cameron’s research led to improvements in abortion care including use of telemedicine, support for medical abortion at home and simplified follow up.
Professor Cameron serves on expert groups internationally including the steering committee of the World Health Organization expert group on Family Planning. She is chair of the Science and Education Committee of the European Society of Contraception. She is former president of the International Federation for Abortion and Contraception Professionals. She is former director of the Clinical Effectiveness Unit, FSRH. She is Editor-in-Chief of BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health.