Who we are
The Association of Early Pregnancy Units (AEPU) is a multiprofessional organisation that represents more than 200 early pregnancy units in the UK, supported by healthcare professionals who provide early pregnancy assessment and surveillance. We aim to set and maintain standards in early pregnancy care.
The AEPU was formed in 1999 and holds an annual 2-day conference at varying locations within the UK. The AEPU was recognised by the RCOG as a specialist society in 2008.
What we do
The AEPU works towards its aims in several ways:
- The AEPU supports the Early Pregnancy Clinical Studies Group (EP-CSG), which liaises with the National Reproductive Health Research Network.
- The AEPU provides sessions on early pregnancy at various meetings, such as the 2008 British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) meeting and the RCOG’s Annual Professional Development conference in 2012.
- In 2004, the AEPU produced guidelines for practice, which were revised and updated in 2007. These guidelines have been adopted in the Netherlands and Poland.
- In 2007, the AEPU conducted a survey of UK early pregnancy units.
- In 2008, the AEPU contributed to the RCOG publication Standards for Gynaecology by writing the chapter on early pregnancy.
- In 2008, the AEPU provided sessions on early pregnancy session at BMUS 2008 and the RCOG Annual Professional Development Conference in November 2012.
- Since 2010, the AEPU has been a stakeholder and provided expert opinion into the NICE guideline on ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage, published in December 2012.
How we do this
The AEPU is formed of health professionals connected with emergency gynaecology and early pregnancy care. The Executive Committee consists of 12 members and is chaired by Rachel Small, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at St Michael’s University Hospital in Bristol.
Contact us
Chair: Rachel Small
Treasurer: Susy Hollamby
Secretary: Judith Hamilton
Email: aepu@rcog.org.uk
Website: www.aepu.org.uk
Address: AEPU, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 10-18 Union Street, London SE1 1SZ, UK