Members of a support group, provide each other with various types of help and information for a particular shared difficulty. The support may take the form of providing relevant information, relating personal experiences, listening to others' experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social networks. A support group may also provide ancillary support, such as serving as a voice for the public or engaging in advocacy. Support groups maintain interpersonal contact among their members in a variety of ways. Support groups also maintain contact through printed information rich newsletters, telephone chains, internet forums, and mailing lists.
Support groups offer companionship and information for people coping with diseases or disabilities. Support groups may not be appropriate for everyone, and some find that a support group actually adds to their stress rather than relieving it.
Evaluation of the quality of Web sites is discussed in (Q4.27) . You may find that several general women's health sites may help you (internet information). The following are more specialised relevant Web sites:-
Antenatal screening tests:
Www. Amnionet.com/contents.htm
www. Ascotrad.co.nz/prenatal/
www.hta.nhsweb.nhs.uk/execsumm/SUMM201.htm
www.leeds. Ac.uk/lass/index.htm
www. Medforum.nl/gynfo/vol23.htm
Associations:
www.downs-syndrome.org.uk/
www.ntsad.org/ (Tay Sacs)
www.bpas.org/
members. Tripod.com/~plpc/ pro-life
This page was last reviewed on 4th December 2006.
Please click on the required question.
- 1 What does the term abortion mean?
- 2 What are the legal criteria that permit doctors to terminate a pregnancy in the UK?
- 3 How could we tell if there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped - e.g. Down Syndrome?
- 3A What is Tay Sachs and should we test for it?
- 4 How prevalent is pregnancy termination?
- 5 Why do unwanted pregnancies occur?
- 6 I think I may be pregnant and I do not want to have a baby now. What should I do?
- 7 Should I terminate my pregnancy for social reasons?
- 8 How can my pregnancy be terminated?
- 9 What does a suction (surgical) termination of pregnancy involve?
- 10 What is a medical abortion?
- 11 What will happen to me if I have a medical abortion?
- 12 How do medical and surgical pregnancy termination compare?
- 13 What are the chances of medical termination failing?
- 14 What are the risks of pregnancy termination?
- 15 Why is there debate about the ethics of pregnancy termination?
- 16 Support Groups.
- 17 Where can I obtain more information?
Thank you for choosing to visit us.
This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.
I do hope that you find the answers to your women's health questions in the patient information and medical advice provided.
