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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
"It's Not a One Size Fits All": Service Users' Views on How Service Structure Shapes Quality of Abortion Care in Britain. Findings from the SACHA Study.
SCOTT, R; Lewandowska, M; MEIKSIN, R; Salaria, N; Lohr, PA; Cameron, S; Reiter, J; PALMER, M; FRENCH, RS; WELLINGS, K; SACHA Study Team*,;
2026
Studies in family planning
Access to reproductive health services: findings from the 2023 Reproductive Health Survey for England
MCCARTHY, OL; PALMER, MJ; KNAI, C; WARREN, E; JAKUBOWSKI, B; Pacho, A; FRENCH, RS;
2026
openRxiv
Development and validation of the sexual wellbeing in Adolescence Scale (Adol-SW): A brief measure for adolescent health surveys
Turner, B; PALMER, M; Bosó Pérez, R; Lewis, R; O'Sullivan, LF; McManus, S; BONELL, C; McDermott, E; Mitchell, KR;
2026
SSM - Mental Health
Evidence base to inform health service configuration for abortion provision: the SACHA (Shaping Abortion for Change) multi-component study.
WELLINGS, K; FRENCH, RS; Aronsson, A; Baraitser, P; Cameron, S; FREE, C; Keogh, L; Lewandowska, M; Lohr, P; MEIKSIN, R; MCCARTHY, O; Murphy, C; Norman, W; PALMER, M; Reiter, J; SALARIA, N; SCOTT, R; Shawe, J; Sheldon, S; Wong, G;
2026
Health and social care delivery research
Which Aspects of Abortion Care Do Healthcare Practitioners in Britain Think Nurses/Midwives Should Provide? Findings From the SACHA Study.
Fulton, A; MCCARTHY, O; Shawe, J; MEIKSIN, R; Lewandowska, M; PALMER, M; SCOTT, R; WELLINGS, K; Lohr, P; Wong, G; Sheldon, S; Rebecca French and The SACHA Study Team,;
2026
Journal of advanced nursing
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
Assessing the Impact of a Routine Requirement for In-Person Abortion Care for Adolescents in England and Wales: A Prepost Evaluation.
McCulloch, H; Salkeld, S; PALMER, MJ; Hills, K; Lord, J; Green, A; Lohr, PA;
2025
J Adolesc Health
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
See more information

Contact

United Kingdom