This document is part of the process for improving the quality of care in family planning. Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (MEC), the first edition of which was published in 1996, presents current WHO guidance on the safety of various contraceptive methods for use in the context of specific health conditions and characteristics. This is the fifth edition of the MEC – the latest in the series of periodic updates.

This edition is divided into two parts. Part I describes how the recommendations were developed and Part II contains the recommendations and describes how to use them. The recommendations contained within this document are based on the latest clinical and epidemiological data. Several tools and job aids are available from WHO and other sources to help providers use these recommendations in practice

Contents

• Acknowledgements
• Guideline Development Group
• Abbreviations
• Executive summary
• I. Development of the Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use, fifth edition
  • 1.1 Background
  • 1.2 Methods
  • 1.3 Dissemination and evaluation of the Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use, fifth edition
  • 1.4 Reviewed recommendations
• II. Using the recommendations
  • 2.1 Background
  • 2.2 How to use this document
  • 2.3 Using the categories in practice
  • 2.4 Programmatic implications
  • 2.5 Clients with special needs
  • 2.6 Summary of changes within the MEC fifth edition
  • 2.7 Tables
• Annex 1 Declarations of interest
• Annex 2 Systematic reviews

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