RESUMO
PIP: Findings are presented from a retrospective survey of two cohorts of new patients seeking subfertility advice who presented to the subfertility and preconception service of the Croydon Community Health Trust. The first cohort of 40 women presented between April 1, 1995, and March 31, 1996, and the second cohort of 36 women presented between April 1, 1996, and March 31, 1997. The national folate supplementation campaign was conducted in March-April 1996, during which local activities were held to increase awareness among health professionals. The women in cohorts 1 and 2 were aged 21-42 and 19-43 years, respectively, and had been attempting to become pregnant for 2-96 months. 45% of women in the first cohort and 36% in the second cohort had never been pregnant, while 12.5% and 27% of women in the two cohorts, respectively, had a prior history of pregnancy termination. A low incidence was observed at the clinic of correct usage of folate at the time of first attendance throughout the entire period and although folate supplementation had been discussed with some of the women upon their referral to Croydon, 100% uptake of such supplementation had not been achieved. Family planning patients at community services in Croydon should be offered routine rubella testing within 1 year of first attendance if they have not previously given birth in the UK since 1980. Furthermore, couples who are attempting to conceive must be urged to stop smoking preconceptually.^ieng