Sam Rowlands

Sam Rowlands

  • srowlands at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
  • Visiting Professor
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Biography

Sam Rowlands developed an interest in contraception and abortion even before qualifying in medicine. He conducted one of the first clinical trails of emergency contraception while a research assistant at the Margaret Pyke Centre in London. He trained in general practice and he gained his MD while a GP in an English market town. Subsequently he switched to community sexual and reproductive health.

He has a special interest in contraceptive devices and their safety. He has also had an interest in abortion for many years; more recently he has focused on the regulation of non-surgical abortion methods, human rights and stigma.

He has experience of being a Module Leader and Dissertation Supervisor on an MSc at the University of Warwick. He has held several officer, editorial and committee chair appointments at the Faculty of Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare. He continues to be active as a peer reviewer of articles for a range of journals.

After frequently being called upon to give evidence for the civil courts he took an LLM...

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Research

Sam has edited a book entitled Abortion Care which was published by Cambridge University Press on 28 August 2014.

Co-Investigator Wellcome Trust Normative female Sexuality and Abortion Stigma: a feasibility study using Qualitative Secondary Analysis (SASS) www.sassproject.org.uk

Favourites

Journal Articles

  • Ottley, E. and Rowlands, S., 2025. Would it be feasible for European Union countries to implement Safe Access Zones for premises providing abortion services? European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 30 (2), 107-112.
  • Rowlands, S., Heaslip, V., Felske-Durksen, C., Carranza Ko, Ñ., Albert, G., Rich, R., Black, K. and Szilvási, M., 2024. The forced sterilisation of Indigenous and racialised Peoples: origins, nature of abuses, impacts and responses. International Perspectives on Health Equity.
  • Rowlands, S., 2024. Celebrating 50 years of our Journal. BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health.
  • Rowlands, S. and Harrison-Woolrych, M., 2023. Improving access to medicines for early medical abortion: Learning from experiences of medicines licensing and service delivery. BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health, 49 (4), 234-237.
  • Wale, J. and Rowlands, S., 2022. When worlds collide: Non-state actors, philanthropy and the commercial promotion of fertility control options in developing countries. Journal of Philanthropy and Marketing, 27 (4).
  • Rowlands, S. and Harrison-Woolrych, M., 2022. The immediate post-Roe landscape. BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health, 49 (1), 1-2.
  • Rowlands, S. and Regmi, P., 2022. The use of forced sterilisation as a key component of population policy: comparative case studies of Puerto Rico, China, India and Singapore. Indian Journal of Public Administration.
  • Lowe, P. and Rowlands, S., 2022. Long-acting reversible contraception: Targeting those judged to be unfit for parenthood in the United States and the United Kingdom. Global Public Health, 17 (12), 3773-3784.
  • Rowlands, S., 2022. Interference with and abuses of sexual and reproductive health and rights: a new proposal for classification and terminology. European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 27 (5), 357-363.
  • Rowlands, S., Holdsworth, R. and Sowemimo, A., 2022. How to recognise and respond to reproductive coercion. BMJ.
  • Sturgeon, C., Butler, S.A., Gould, F., Johnson, S., Rowlands, S., Stenman, U.-H. and Grenache, D.G., 2021. Recommendations for validation testing of home pregnancy tests (HPTs) in Europe. Clin Chem Lab Med.
  • Wale, J. and Rowlands, S., 2020. Incentivised sterilisation: lessons from India and for the future. European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 25 (4), 314-318.
  • Wale, J. and Rowlands, S., 2020. The ethics of State-sponsored and clinical promotion of long-acting reversible contraception. BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health.
  • Rowlands, S. and Wale, J., 2020. A constructivist vision of the first-trimester abortion experience. Health and Human Rights, 22 (1), 237-249.
  • Short, M., Bitzer, J. and Rowlands, S., 2020. Testing times. European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 25 (3), 167-168.
  • Maxwell, K.J., Hoggart, L., Bloomer, F., Rowlands, S. and Purcell, C., 2020. Normalising abortion: what role can health professionals play? BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health, 47 (1), 32-36.
  • Rowlands, S., 2020. After the Nairobi Summit, how can further progress in sexual and reproductive health and rights be achieved in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region? European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 25 (2), 95-97.
  • Purcell, C., Maxwell, K., Bloomer, F., Rowlands, S. and Hoggart, L., 2020. Toward normalising abortion: findings from a qualitative secondary analysis study. Culture Health and Sexuality, 22 (12), 1349-1364.
  • Rowlands, S. and Thomas, K., 2020. Mandatory waiting periods before abortion and sterilization: Theory and practice. International Journal of Women S Health, 12, 577-586.
  • Rowlands, S., Cornforth, E. and Harrison-Woolrych, M., 2019. Pregnancies associated with etonogestrel implants in the UK: comparison of two 5-year reporting periods. BMJ Sex Reprod Health.
  • Rowlands, S. and Wale, J., 2019. Sterilisations at delivery or after childbirth: Addressing continuing abuses in the consent process. Global Public Health, 14 (8), 1153-1166.
  • Cameron, S., Rowlands, S. and Gemzell-Danielsson, K., 2019. Self-assessment of success of early medical abortion using a self-performed urine pregnancy test. European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 24 (4), 319-321.
  • Rowlands, S. and Walker, S., 2019. Reproductive control by others: Means, perpetrators and effects. BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health, 45 (1), 61-67.
  • Rowlands, S., 2018. Minimising iatrogenic nerve injury in primary care. British Journal of General Practice, 68 (674), 416.
  • Rowlands, S. and Amy, J.J., 2018. Non-consensual sterilization of women living with HIV. International Journal of STD and AIDS, 29 (9), 917-924.
  • Rowlands, S. and Amy, J.-J., 2018. Involuntary sterilisation: we still need to guard against it. BMJ Sex Reprod Health.
  • Amy, J.J. and Rowlands, S., 2018. Legalised non-consensual sterilisation - eugenics put into practice before 1945, and the aftermath. Part 2: Europe. European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care.
  • Amy, J.J. and Rowlands, S., 2018. Legalised non-consensual sterilisation - eugenics put into practice before 1945, and the aftermath. Part 1: USA, Japan, Canada and Mexico. European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care.
  • Rowlands, S. and Amy, J.J., 2018. Sterilization of those with intellectual disability: Evolution from non-consensual interventions to strict safeguards. Journal of intellectual disabilities.
  • Rowlands, S. and Amy, J.J., 2018. Preserving the reproductive potential of transgender and intersex people. European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 23 (1), 58-63.
  • Rowlands, S. and Ingham, R., 2017. Long-acting reversible contraception: conflicting perspectives of advocates and potential users. BJOG an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 124 (10), 1474-1476.
  • Rowlands, S., 2017. On being an expert witness in sexual and reproductive health. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 43 (2), 151-153.
  • Rowlands, S., 2017. Women's autonomy versus societal pressure to control fertility. BJOG an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 124 (5), 824.
  • Rowlands, S. and Gemzell-Danielsson, K., 2017. Postabortion contraception. European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 22 (2), 162-163.
  • Rowlands, S., Mansour, D. and Walling, M., 2017. Intravascular migration of contraceptive implants: two more cases. Contraception, 95 (2), 211-214.
  • Lertxundi, R., Ibarrondo, O., Merki-Feld, G.S., Rey-Novoa, M., Rowlands, S. and Mar, J., 2016. Proposal to inform European institutions regarding the regulation of conscientious objection to abortion. European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 21 (3), 198-200.
  • Rowlands, S., Hoggart, L., Belfield, T. and Raine, S.M., 2016. Comment on 'Who has a repeat abortion? Identifying women at risk of repeated terminations of pregnancy: Analysis of routinely collected health care data'. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 42 (2), 157.
  • McCall, S.J., Flett, G., Okpo, E. and Bhattacharya, S., 2016. Comment on 'Who has a repeat abortion? Identifying women at risk of repeated terminations of pregnancy: analysis of routinely collected health care data': authors' response. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 42 (2), 157-158.
  • Searle, S., O'Brien, P. and Rowlands, S., 2016. Comment on 'Inserting the etonogestrel contraceptive implant'. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 42 (2), 158-159.
  • Rowlands, S., Oloto, E. and Horwell, D.H., 2016. Intrauterine devices and risk of uterine perforation: current perspectives. Open Access Journal of Contraception, 7, 19-32.
  • Rowlands, S. and López-Arregui, E., 2016. How health services can improve access to abortion. European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 21 (1), 1-3.
  • Rowlands, S., 2015. Abortion: A disunited Europe. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 41 (3), 164-167.
  • Rowlands, S., 2015. Every Third Woman in America: How Legal Abortion Transformed Our Nation. JOURNAL OF FAMILY PLANNING AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, 41 (2).
  • Rowlands, S., 2015. Abortion Law in Transnational Perspective: Cases and Controversies. JOURNAL OF FAMILY PLANNING AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, 41 (3), 204.
  • Rowlands, S. and Searle, S., 2014. Contraceptive implants: current perspectives. Open Access Journal of Contraception, 5, 73-84.
  • Rowlands, S., 2014. Serious adverse effects of umbilical cord transection prior to second-trimester D&E abortion. Contraception.
  • Rowlands, S., 2014. Conscientious objection and refusal to provide reproductive healthcare: A white paper examining prevalence, health consequences and policy responses. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 40 (2), 144.
  • Rowlands, S., 2014. In Search of Common Ground on Abortion: From Culture War to Reproductive Justice. JOURNAL OF FAMILY PLANNING AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE, 40 (4).
  • Rowlands, S., 2013. Comment on 'The policing of abortion services in England': author's response. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 39 (4), 309.
  • Rowlands, S. and Raine, S.M., 2013. Dirty work. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 39 (4), 269.
  • Rowlands, S., 2013. Nerve injuries related to etonogestrel implant. Contraception, 88, 431.
  • Rowlands, S., 2013. The policing of abortion services in England. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 39 (2), 121-126.
  • Rowlands, S., 2012. Abortion pills: under whose control? J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 38 (2), 117-122.
  • Rowlands, S., Gemzell-Danielsson, K., Aubény, E. and Fiala, C., 2011. International Federation for Professionals in Abortion and Contraception (FIAPAC). J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 37 (4), 251-252.
  • Rowlands, S., 2011. Misinformation on abortion. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care, 16 (4), 233-240.
  • Rowlands, S., 2011. Learning disability and contraceptive decision-making. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 37 (3), 173-178.
  • Rowlands, S., 2010. Lost IUD penetrating bladder wall. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 36, 255.
  • Rowlands, S., 2010. Legal aspects of contraceptive implants. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 36, 243-248.
  • Rowlands, S., 2010. Social predictors of repeat adolescent pregnancy and focussed strategies. Best Practice and Research: Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 24, 605-616.
  • Rowlands, S., Sujan, M.A. and Cooke, M., 2010. A risk management approach to the design of contraceptive implants. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 36 (4), 191-195.
  • Rowlands, S., 2010. Sharing personal information: How to decide whether to or not. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 36 (3), 161-165.
  • Rowlands, S. and Guthrie, K., 2009. Abortion and mental health. British Journal of Psychiatry, 195 (1), 83.
  • Rowlands, S., 2009. New technologies in contraception. BJOG, 116 (2), 230-239.
  • Rowlands, S., 2008. The decision to opt for abortion. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 34 (3), 175-180.
  • Mavranezouli, I. and LARC Guideline Development Group, 2008. The cost-effectiveness of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods in the UK: analysis based on a decision-analytic model developed for a National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical practice guideline. Hum Reprod, 23 (6), 1338-1345.
  • Rowlands, S., 2007. Contraception and abortion. J R Soc Med, 100 (10), 465-468.
  • Rowlands, S., 2007. More than one abortion. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 33 (3), 155-158.
  • Rowlands, S., 2006. The development of a nationwide central booking service for abortion. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care, 11 (3), 210-214.
  • Rowlands, S., 2006. Caring for women seeking abortion. Practitioner, 250 (1678), 15-23.
  • Rowlands, S., 2005. Medical induction method failing to cause fetal demise. J Obstet Gynaecol, 25 (5), 531.
  • Rowlands, S., 2003. The incidence of sterilisation in the UK. BJOG: an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 110, 819-824.
  • Rowlands, S., 2003. Commentary on repeat emergency contraception. Contraception, 67 (5), 421.
  • Rowlands, S., 2003. Abortion and breast cancer risk. Br J Gen Pract, 53 (490), 408-409.
  • Rowlands, S., 2003. Newer progestogens. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 29, 13-16.
  • Rowlands, S. and Lawrenson, R., 2002. Emergency contraception in the community. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 28 (2), 94.
  • Rowlands, S., 2002. Counselling and consent in vasectomy. J R Soc Med, 95 (1), 56-57.
  • Rowlands, S., 2001. Contraception in Practice. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 94 (11), 606-607.
  • Rowlands, S., Devalia, H. and Lawrenson, R., 2001. Preferential prescribing of type of combined oral contraceptive pill by general practitioners to teenagers with acne. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care, 6 (1), 9-13.
  • Rowlands, S., Devalia, H. and Lawrenson, R., 2001. Use of the combined oral contraceptive pill by under 16s. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care, 27 (1), 17-19.
  • Rowlands, S., Devalia, H., Lawrenson, R., Logie, J. and Ineichen, B., 2000. Repeated use of hormonal emergency contraception by younger women in the UK. Br J Fam Plann, 26 (3), 138-143.
  • Rowlands, S., 1998. Contraceptive use in a rural general practice. J R Soc Med, 91 (6), 297-300.
  • Rowlands, S.C. and Dakin, L., 1998. Twelve years of injectable contraceptive use in a general practice. Br J Fam Plann, 23 (4), 133-134.
  • Rowlands, S. and Randall, S., 1997. Sexual medicine. Models of integrated sexual health services already exist. BMJ, 315 (7105), 429.
  • Rowlands, S. and Royston, P., 1994. Estimating time of delivery. Br J Gen Pract, 44 (381), 188.
  • Rowlands, S., Dakin, L. and Booth, M., 1993. Deregulating emergency contraception. Service should reflect greater demand after the weekend. BMJ, 307 (6912), 1143.
  • Rowlands, S. and Royston, P., 1993. Estimated date of delivery from last menstrual period and ultrasound scan: which is more accurate? Br J Gen Pract, 43 (373), 322-325.
  • Rowlands, S., 1993. Intrauterine contraceptive devices. Br J Gen Pract, 43 (369), 175.
  • ROWLANDS, S., 1993. INTRAUTERINE CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES. BRITISH JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE, 43 (369), 174-175.
  • Rowlands, S., 1991. Contrasting contraceptive needs. Practitioner, 235 (1508), 868-873.
  • Rowlands, S., 1991. Raising standards in family planning services. Br J Gen Pract, 41 (345), 138-139.
  • ROWLANDS, S., 1988. PRECAUTIONS AFTER MISSED CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS. JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, 38 (313), 373-374.
  • Rowlands, S., 1987. Pill-taking routine. Midwife Health Visit Community Nurse, 23 (12), 531-532.
  • Rowlands, S., Kubba, A.A., Guillebaud, J. and Bounds, W., 1986. A possible mechanism of action of danazol and an ethinylestradiol/norgestrel combination used as postcoital contraceptive agents. Contraception, 33 (6), 539-545.
  • Family planning: general practice and clinic services. The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 35 (281), 586.
  • Rowlands, S., 1985. Family planning: general practice and clinic services. J R Coll Gen Pract, 35 (273), 199-200.
  • ROWLANDS, S., 1984. POST-COITAL CONTRACEPTION. JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, 34 (265), 465.
  • Rowlands, S., 1983. Contraception today. Practitioner, 227 (1379), 747-755.
  • Rowlands, S., Booth, M. and Guillebaud, J., 1983. Behavioural patterns in women requesting postcoital contraception. J Biosoc Sci, 15 (2), 145-152.
  • Rowlands, S., Guillebaud, J., Bounds, W. and Booth, M., 1983. Side effects of danazol compared with an ethinyloestradiol/norgestrel combination when used for postcoital contraception. Contraception, 27 (1), 39-49.
  • Rowlands, S., 1982. Morning-after pills. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed), 285 (6338), 322-323.
  • VASECTOMY. The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 30 (212), 189.
  • Contraception for the Needy. British medical journal, 1 (5844), 51.

Books

Chapters

  • Rowlands, S. and Walker, S., 2023. Reproductive Coercion and Abuse. Gender Based Violence A Comprehensive Guide. 441-454.
  • Lohr, P., Lord, J. and Rowlands, S., 2020. How would decriminalisation affect women's health? In: Sheldon, S. and Wellings, K., eds. Decriminalising abortion in the UK: what would it mean?. Bristol: Policy Press, 37-56.
  • Rowlands, S., 2015. Contraceptive devices for women: implants, intrauterine devices and other products. Medicines for women. Springer.
  • Rowlands, S., 2015. Contraceptive devices for women: implants, intrauterine devices and other products. Medicines for women. Cham: Springer.
  • Rowlands, S., 2011. Contraception and sexual problems. In: Khot, A. and Polmear, A., eds. Practical General Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.
  • Rowlands, S., 1999. Intrauterine contraception. In: Kubba, A., Sanfilippo, J.S. and Hampton, N., eds. Contraception and office gynecology. Bailliere Tindall.
  • Rowlands, S., 1993. Analysis of the family planning consultation. In: Montford, H., ed. Contraceptive Care. Hodder Arnold.

Conferences

Reports

Internet Publications

Others

Invited Lectures

  • Long-acting reversible contraceptives, Bogota, Colombia, 28 Oct 2019 more
  • Restrictions to access to abortion in Europe, Budapest, 10 May 2018 more
  • Overcoming health service barriers to abortion, Belfast, 03 Jun 2016 more
  • A global view of conscientious objection, Lisbon, 30 May 2014 more

External Responsibilities

  • European Society of Contraception & Reproductive Health, Co-ordinator of Expert Group on Abortion (2014-2018), http://www.escrh.eu/about-esc/committees/expert-groups
  • Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, Chair of the Clinical Effectiveness Committee (2010-2016)

Conference Presentations

  • 18th Annual Meeting, Pregnancies associated with etonogestrel implants: comparison of two five-year reporting periods, 11 Nov 2018, Geneva
  • 15th Congress of the ESC, Does sterilisation without valid consent happen in the 21st Century?, 09 May 2018, Budapest

Qualifications

  • LLM in Medical Law (University of Northumbria, 2009)
  • FRCGP in General Practice (Royal College of General Practitioners, 2006)
  • FFSRH in Sexual and Reproductive Health (Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, 2005)
  • MD in Medicine (University of London, 1999)
  • DCH in Paediatrics (Royal College of Physicians of England, 1978)
  • DRCOG in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1976)
  • MBBS in Medicine (University of London, 1974)

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