Four young people asked to see the doctor together. One man, rather older than the others acted as spokesman, and it quickly became apparent that he was the moving force behind their attendance. After a short while it was possible to split them up into the two couples, and later to see them individually. The older man’s own girlfriend felt she was being pressured to go on the Pill because he did not like using sheaths. Personally she had no wish to do so at this stage, and with the support of the doctor she was able to tell her boyfriend how she felt. Giving him an opportunity to air his own views at the beginning appeared to have made it easier for him to accept her ideas, and they were supplied with some more sheaths. Later she returned asking for the Pill, feeling now that she loved him enough to want to do this for him. The other couple had not started to make love and were on an exploratory visit to the clinic, perhaps partly swept along by their friend’s need of support. A few months later and they came back on their own and she started the COC.
*59/197/1*
