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During Covid19-related restriction in face-to-face contact with healthcare professionals, FSRH CEU offers the following clinical advice to support ongoing provision of effective contraception. Provision of effective contraception (this may be a bridging method in the short term) and emergency contraception are considered priority services.

This statement reviews and summarises the available evidence regarding the effect of contraception on weight. Looking at each method individually, the FSRH CEU advises clinicians regarding proven and theoretical associations between contraceptive options and weight/BMI.

This statement provides guidance on antibiotic cover for urgent insertion of intrauterine contraception in women at high risk of STI. Download the full document here.

A Danish database study suggests that children born to women who have used hormonal contraception (HC) in the three months prior to conception or in early pregnancy are at increased risk of developing childhood non-lymphoid leukaemia compared with children whose mothers have never used HC. The FSRH CEU provides a critical appraisal of the study in this statement.

Evidence from new study supports the existing FSRH recommendation that commencement of hormonal contraception should be delayed for 5 days after UPA-EC. Published 28/8/2018.

Much recent media attention has been given to the subject of a potential association between hormonal contraception and depression. The FSRH CEU monitors and reports relevant emerging evidence. A new systematic review published in Contraception examines the existing evidence relating to risk of depression associated with use of progestogen-only contraception (POC).1 The authors of the review conclude that the bulk of the evidence does not support an association between use of POC and depression based on validated measures. Meta-analysis was not possible due to the heterogeneity of studies.

This statement provides guidance on contraceptive options for women taking (or whose male partners are taking) known teratogenic drugs or drugs with potential teratogenic effects. Download the full document and save.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently reviewing the safety of use of Esmya® (ulipristal acetate) for management of uterine fibroids. This review follows reports of a very small number of cases worldwide of serious liver injury in women using Esmya. Until the review process is complete, temporary restrictions have been placed on commencing treatment with Esmya and guidelines for monitoring liver function in women already taking Esmya have been introduced. The EMA recommendations are available at: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2018/02/news_detail_002902.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1

This statement responds to a recent study that reported that women who had used intrauterine contraception (IUC) were over one third less likely to experience invasive cervical cancer than women who had not used IUC. The study has received media attention and the FSRH CEU considered it important to put the findings into perspective. January 2018

FSRH's Clinical Effectiveness Unit (CEU) reviews an observational study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study reports that, in the Danish study population, women who were currently using any method of hormonal contraception* (HC) or had done so within the last 6 months were 20% more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than those who had never used HC.