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Dr Melissa Palmer

Programme Director for MSc in Reproductive and Sexual Health Research

United Kingdom

Jump to: Affiliations Teaching Research Publications

I am an Assistant Professor and my research focuses on sexual and reproductive health, primarily in the UK. I joined LSHTM in 2009 to undertake the MSc in Reproductive and Sexual Health Research. I then completed my PhD examining the circumstances of first sexual intercourse among young people in Britain. I have since worked at the School on a range of projects including the National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal); the safetxt trial (a randomised controlled trial of a safer sex intervention delivered through mobile phone messaging), led by Professor Caroline Free; the SACHA (Shaping Abortion for Change) Study, led by Professor Kaye Wellings and Dr Rebecca French; and the Reproductive Health Survey for England 2023 (RHSE2023).

Affiliations
Department of Population Health
Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health

Teaching
I am the Programme Director for MSc Reproductive and Sexual Health Research. I teach on Principles of Social Research, Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health, Foundations in Reproductive Health, Research Design and Analysis, and Analysing Survey and Population Data modules.

Research

Current and recent research includes:

1. The Reproductive Health Survey for England 2023: which collected data four broad areas - periods and menopause; preventing and planning pregnancy; pregnancy experiences and outcomes; and reproductive health conditions, such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome. PI: Professor Rebecca French. Further information available here.

 

2. The SACHA Study: which aims to create an evidence base to guide new directions in abortion care in the UK. PIs: Professor Kaye Wellings and Professor Rebecca French

3. safetxt: A randomised controlled trial of an intervention delivered by mobile phone messaging to reduce sexually transmitted infections (STI) by increasing sexual health precaution behaviours in young people. PI: Professor Caroline Free

4. Analyses of Natsal data: I have worked on various analyses of data from the National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal), which have been carried out in Britain every 10 years since 1990.

5. Global Study of Sexual Behaviour: this project is brought together data from over 60 countries worldwide in order to examine patterns and trends in sexual behaviour over time. PIs: Professor Kaye Wellings and Dr Emma Slaymaker

6. Systematic reviews: I have worked on various systematic reviews examining the effect of mHealth interventions on health behaviours and outcomes.

Research Area
Reproductive health
Sexual health
Health inequalities
Quantitative research
Qualitative research

Selected Publications
The Burden of Poor Reproductive Health in England: Results From a Cross-Sectional Survey.
PALMER, MJ; MCCARTHY, OL; FRENCH, RS;
2025
BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Preference for Face-to-Face Contraceptive Service Delivery Post-COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Patterson, S; Rennie, N; Mann, S; MCCARTHY, O; PALMER, M; FRENCH, RS;
2025
BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Factors Associated With Contraceptive Initiation and Use Among Women Who Have Given Birth in the Last Year: Findings From the 2023 Women's Reproductive Health Survey.
Stewart, C; Hough, A; PALMER, MJ; MCCARTHY, O; FRENCH, RS; Pathak, N;
2025
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
"I'm Pregnant, What Do I Do?": Exploring How People Having Abortions in Britain Find and Use Online Sources of Information.
Mackay, R; SCOTT, R; Lewandowska, M; MEIKSIN, R; Salaria, N; Lohr, PA; Cameron, S; PALMER, M; FRENCH, RS; WELLINGS, K; SACHA Study Team,;
2025
Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health
Factors associated with sexually transmitted reinfections, number of sexual partners and condom use among previously infected young people.
LANDRAY, I; CARPENTER, JR; BERENDES, S; PALMER, MJ; FREE, C;
2025
International journal of STD & AIDS
Methodological report of a cross-sectional survey of abortion-related knowledge, attitudes and practices amongst health professionals in Britain, strategies adopted and lessons learned: evidence from the SACHA Study.
FRENCH, RS; PALMER, MJ; MCCARTHY, O; Salaria, N; MEIKSIN, R; Shawe, J; Lewandowska, M; SCOTT, R; WELLINGS, K; SACHA Study Team,;
2024
BMC health services research
Age, sex and sexual orientation effects in the Safetxt trial: secondary data analysis of a randomised controlled trial.
BERENDES, S; PALMER, MJ; HICKSON, FC I; BRADLEY, E; MCCARTHY, OL; CARPENTER, JR; FREE, C;
2024
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Attitudes towards the regulation and provision of abortion among healthcare professionals in Britain: cross-sectional survey data from the SACHA Study.
WELLINGS, K; SCOTT, RH; Sheldon, S; MCCARTHY, O; PALMER, MJ; Shawe, J; MEIKSIN, R; Lewandowska, M; Cameron, ST; Reiter, J; FRENCH, RS; SACHA Study Team,; SACHA study team,;
2024
BMJ sexual & reproductive health
Patient and health professional attitudes towards the use of telemedicine for abortion care in Britain: Findings from the SACHA study.
MEIKSIN, R; Lewandowska, M; SCOTT, RH; PALMER, M; MCCARTHY, O; SALARIA, N; Lohr, PA; Shawe, J; FRENCH, RS; WELLINGS, K; SACHA Study Team,;
2024
Digital health
How can patient experience of abortion care be improved? Evidence from the SACHA study.
Lewandowska, M; SCOTT, R; MEIKSIN, R; Reiter, J; SALARIA, N; Lohr, PA; Cameron, S; PALMER, M; FRENCH, RS; WELLINGS, K; SACHA Study Team,;
2024
Women's health (London, England)
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Contact

United Kingdom