Sharon Cameron (MB ChB, MD, FRCOG, FFSRH)

Consultant in Gynaecology & Sexual and Reproductive Health

Biography

Background

Sharon Cameron is a Consultant Gynaecologist and Professor at the University of Edinburgh, a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and  fellow of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. She has extensive clinical research experience in  contraception and sexual and reproductive health care . Professor Cameron serves on expert groups internationally including the steering committee of the World Health Organization expert group on Family Planning. She is a member of the Executive committee of the European Society of Contraception and international investigator with the SPHERE coalition for excellence in sexual and reproductive health research (Australia). She is Editor-in-Chief of  the medical journal BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health. She is  a member of the Board of trustees of the Population Council (New York).

Qualifications

2007 MFSRH:  Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare

2004 CCST:Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Subspecialisation Reproductive Medicine)

 

1998 MRCOG: Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists

1997 MD (University of Edinburgh):  Effect of antiprogestins on the endometrium and menstrual cycle

1991 MB ChB (University of Edinburgh)

Responsibilities & affiliations

Consultant in Gynaecology and Sexual and Reproductive Health, NHS Lothian

Professor (Hon), University of Edinburgh

Editor-in-Chief, BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health

 

Undergraduate teaching

Supervise BSc student thesis projects

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

Yes

Current PhD students supervised

Jacqueline Quinn- 2025-current; Primary supervisor; PhD in progress – clinical- 

 

Harriet Latham - Cork - Second supervisor-PhD in progress – clinical- 

Elizabeth Wastnedge - Second supervisor-PhD in progress – clinical- 

Past PhD students supervised

Primary Supervisor :

John Reynolds -Wright -PHD completed- 

Michelle Cooper- PhD completed-

Rebecca Heller- PhD completed

Lucy Michie - MD completed

Louise Melvin - MD

 

Research summary

Conducting and evaluating initiatives aimed at improving sexual and reproductive health within the UK and globally.

Contraception and emergency contraception; new methods, improved information and access, including after birth.

Management of unintended pregnancy and improving the patient journey.

Sexual and reproductive health service delivery and new models of care, including  use of telemedicine and expanding provision  from the community pharmacy.

Knowledge exchange

Professor Cameron’s research has led to improved access to contraception after pregnancy in the UK, informed guidelines in this area and supported the roll out of antenatal contraceptive counselling and provision of postpartum contraception from maternity services. She undertook clinical trials with emergency contraception that supported the European Medicine Agency’s decision to make it available over the counter from pharmacies in the European Union. Professor Cameron’s research on self-administration of the progestogen only injectable supported the approval of this in the UK for home self-administration. The publication of the ‘Bridge-it study’ in the Lancet in 2020, provided support for pharmacist provision of the progestogen only pill along with emergency contraception as part of routine care. This study also informed regulatory change to make the progestogen only pill available over the counter from the pharmacy in the UK. Cameron’s research led to improvements in medical abortion care including use of telemedicine, support for administration of medicines at home and simplified follow up.

Project activity

Professor Cameron's research interests include contraception, prevention and management of unintended pregnancy. Her research involves a mixture of clinical trials, biomedical studies and health services research. She collaborates with  clinicians, other health professionals, policy makers, discovery scientists, s, patient and public groups, both nationally and internationally to  conduct and evaluate initiatives aimed at improving women’s sexual and reproductive health.

Current project grants

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) - How far is too far? Creating an evidence base to support safe provision of medication abortion for people living far from emergency services. (2024-2027) Norman W et al. Scottish CI Cameron S

• Chief Scientist Office (2024-25) Cost Effectiveness Of Immediate Versus Delayed Insertion Of Intrauterine Contraception After Childbirth In The UK Cooper M, Cameron S, Neilson A

• National Institute for Health Research, HTA. DEBI: clinical and cost-effectiveness of desogestrel versus combined oral contraceptive pill for problem bleeding etonogestrel implant (2023-26). Walker K, Latham-Cork H, Daniels J, Cameron S et al.

• Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Recovery Plan, Scottish Government (2023-26). SHARP: Sexual health and abortion at the pharmacy. Reynolds-Wright J, Radley A, Cameron S.

• Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Recovery Plan, Scottish Government (2023-26).Service Co-Design to Optimise Post-Abortion Contraception Access & Uptake in Scotland (SCOPE). Boydell N, Harden J, Reynolds -Wright J, Cameron S.

• Chief Scientist Office (2023-26) and Edinburgh Family Planning Trust. Pre- loaded insertion device for immediate postpartum intrauterine contraception provision: a randomised controlled pilot study (POPIN). Cooper M, Blumenthal P, Cameron S.

• European Society of Contraception. Mapping of postpartum contraceptive provision across Europe using an analytic hierarchy model (2024-2025).Cooper M, Cameron S.

• FHI 360. (2022-2025). A Phase 3, Open-Label, Multicenter Study to Evaluate Contraceptive Efficacy and Safety of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (150 mg/mL) Injected Subcutaneously Every Six Months. Cameron S.

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