FAQs

What is the UKMEC? +

The UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (UKMEC) offers guidance to providers of contraception regarding who can use contraceptive m...

What’s in the UKMEC's expanded introduction (Section A)? +

Before using the UKMEC, it is important that clinicians are familiar with how it should be used. To facilitate this, UKMEC 2016 has an expanded intro...

The UKMEC summary sheets look different – what has changed? +

Clinicians using the summary tables MUST NOTE that the presentation of methods has been reordered (from left to right) in the tables to broadly refle...

Why is there is a different UKMEC category for initiation versus continuation for some methods/conditions? +

This is explained in the section on Using the UKMEC in Section A of UKMEC 2016. The initiation (I) and continuation (C) of a method of contracepti...

Can you give me details of the Migraine resource please? (UKMEC 2016) +

This additional resource can be found in Section C of the UKMEC 2016. The diagnosis of Migraine With or Without Aura resource has been developed t...

I hadn't realised that in addition to the UKMEC there is a USMEC and a WHOMEC, all produced in a similar fashion using the latest evidence. Given that "it's all about safety", are the recommendations in all these MECs the same? If not, why? +

The WHOMEC is primarily intended for use in developing countries where the risks associated with pregnancy are often extremely high but it is the int...

Is the combined oral contraceptive pill safe to use by women who are breastfeeding? (UKMEC 2016) +

Postpartum Use of combined hormonal contraception (CHC) by women following childbirth Based on breastfeeding status alone, CHC can be used by b...

If <6 weeks postpartum is a high risk factor for VTE, why is it UKMEC 2 for Combined hormonal HC for women 3-6 weeks following childbirth and not breastfeeding and have no other risk for VTE? What are the “other risk factors for VTE”? +

Postpartum Use of combined hormonal contraception (CHC) by women following childbirth The UKMEC table (Section B) for CHC/ postpartum (in n...

Does the UKMEC category for IUC insertion postpartum include consideration of the risk of infection and perforation? +

Use of intrauterine contraception (IUC) by women following childbirth The UKMEC provides separate categories for Cu-IUD and LNG-IUS. But the reco...

Why is it UKMEC 1 for IUC insertion up to 48 hours following childbirth but UKMEC 3 when IUC is inserted after this time? Is insertion of LNG-IUS contraindicated in women who breastfeed due to unacceptable risk of perforation? +

Use of intrauterine contraception (IUC) by women following childbirth Evidence exists for the safety of insertion of IUC in the first 48 hours af...

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