Contraception (Hormonal Methods & IUD/IUS)

🔍 When to Suspect

Any individual of reproductive age seeking a reliable method to prevent pregnancy, requiring a full medical assessment for suitability

From the full topic in The Ocean Library: Contraception (Hormonal Methods & IUD/IUS)

🧭 When to consider

Contraception is relevant to anyone of reproductive age who wishes to avoid pregnancy. The core primary-care skill is to match an effective method to the person's preferences while screening for medical eligibility. Safety is judged using the FSRH UK Medical Eligibility Criteria (UKMEC) – note that the FSRH was renamed the College of Sexual & Reproductive Health (CoSRH) in 2025, and that UKMEC 2025 now supersedes the 2016 edition.

Two principles run through every consultation. First, UKMEC relates to safety, not effectiveness – it tells you what is safe, not what is best, and it does not account for drug interactions. Second, the most effective methods are the long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) – the implant, the intrauterine system (IUS) and the copper coil – because they remove the risk of user error.

UKMEC category	Meaning	In practice
1	No restriction	Use the method freely
2	Advantages generally outweigh risks	Generally use; some follow-up may be needed
3	Risks usually outweigh advantages	Not usually recommended – needs expert judgement / referral
4	Unacceptable health risk	Do not use

Multiple category 2 conditions relating to the same risk, or more than one category 3, may together make a method unsuitable – apply clinical judgement.

Source: FSRH UKMEC 2025

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