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Contraceptive Safety

CDC Issues Recommendations On Contraceptive Safety

Today the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its first set of evidence-based
recommendations for health care professionals in the US on contraceptive safety. The US Medical
Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2010 offers guidance to physicians and health care
professionals when providing family planning counseling and services to women, especially to those with
specific existing medical conditions.

"These new CDC contraception guidelines have considerable implications for ob-gyns in the US because
we are the primary physicians for the majority of reproductive-age women," said Richard N. Waldman,
MD, President of The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

The CDC recommendations were adapted from the guidance previously developed by the World Health
Organization and will be regularly updated to reflect the latest published evidence. The US version adapts
some of the guidance for better alignment with recommendations from ACOG and to better fit the US
health care system.

The new recommendations will help providers and patients in choosing a safe and effective method of
contraception, given each individual's unique health circumstances. Approximately 1,800 combinations of
contraceptive methods and medical conditions are given a rating of 1 to 4 in terms of safety, with a 1
rating having no restrictions and a 4 rating representing a condition that has an unacceptable health risk
with the use of a specific contraceptive. The CDC recommendations note that, in addition to safety
concerns, determining an appropriate contraceptive method also should take into consideration
availability, acceptability, and personal preference.

"About half of all pregnancies in the US are unplanned," said Dr. Waldman. "These new
recommendations should help improve contraceptive counseling and encourage more widespread use of
effective contraception. This is particularly important for women with certain medical conditions for
whom an unplanned pregnancy could be especially risky. The bottom line is that most women, including
those with chronic diseases, can safely use most types of contraception."