Almost two weeks into President Trump’s second term, physicians noticed that several CDC pages on contraception were no longer accessible, displaying “the page you're looking for was not found.”
In response, theSkimm is publishing this critical content to ensure health care providers can still access it. We’ve also preserved two documents mentioned and linked on the original site, the U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024 (MEC) and U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024 (U.S. SPR), on our Google Drive (linked below).
Two weeks ago, we preserved the contents of reproductiverights.gov for those seeking guidance on their rights and options with regard to abortion and contraception. To access that guidance, visit reproductiverightsdotgov.com.
Note: The content appears below as it did on webpages with URLs beginning cdc.gov/contraception/hcp/ until 6:42pm ET on Jan. 31, 2025, when that content was last saved on the Internet Archive. This was the US government's guidance prior to that date and time and does not reflect the guidance of the current or subsequent administrations. The CDC’s Contraception app is also no longer available on app stores.
CDC Contraceptive Guidance for Health Care Providers
At a glance
This page provides a brief overview of the 2024 U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC), the 2024 U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (U.S. SPR), and links to the latest guidance documents.
CDC contraceptive guidance for health care providers
The goals of these recommendations are to remove unnecessary medical barriers to accessing and using contraception and to support providing person-centered contraceptive counseling and services in a noncoercive manner.
The 2024 U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC)
The 2024 U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC) comprises recommendations for the use of specific contraceptive methods by persons who have certain characteristics or medical conditions.
Keep Reading: U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024 (MEC)
The 2024 U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (U.S. SPR)
The 2024 U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (U.S. SPR) addresses a selected group of common, yet sometimes complex, issues regarding initiation and use of specific contraceptive methods.
Keep Reading: U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024 (U.S. SPR)
Resource
U.S. MEC and U.S. SPR Provider Tools
Contraception App
At a glance
CDC's Contraception app is intended to help health care providers when they counsel patients about contraceptive method choice and use.
Description
CDC's Contraception app can help health care providers counsel patients about contraceptive method choice and use. It is based on CDC Contraceptive Guidance for Health Care Providers. The app covers more than 60 characteristics or medical conditions (U.S. MEC) and numerous clinical situations (U.S. SPR). Although these recommendations are meant to serve as a source of clinical guidance, health care providers should always consider the individual clinical circumstances of each person seeking contraception services.
Download App
Download on the Apple App Store
U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024
Summary
The 2024 U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC) comprises recommendations for the use of specific contraceptive methods by persons who have certain characteristics or medical conditions. These recommendations for health care providers were updated by CDC after review of the scientific evidence and a meeting with national experts in Atlanta, Georgia, during January 25–27, 2023. The information in this report replaces the 2016 U.S. MEC (CDC. U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2016. MMWR 2016:65[No. RR-3]:1–103). Notable updates include 1) the addition of recommendations for persons with chronic kidney disease; 2) revisions to the recommendations for persons with certain characteristics or medical conditions (i.e., breastfeeding, postpartum, postabortion, obesity, surgery, deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism with or without anticoagulant therapy, thrombophilia, superficial venous thrombosis, valvular heart disease, peripartum cardiomyopathy, systemic lupus erythematosus, high risk for HIV infection, cirrhosis, liver tumor, sickle cell disease, solid organ transplantation, and drug interactions with antiretrovirals used for prevention or treatment of HIV infection); and 3) inclusion of new contraceptive methods, including new doses or formulations of combined oral contraceptives, contraceptive patches, vaginal rings, progestin-only pills, levonorgestrel intrauterine devices, and vaginal pH modulator. The recommendations in this report are intended to serve as a source of evidence-based clinical practice guidance for health care providers. The goals of these recommendations are to remove unnecessary medical barriers to accessing and using contraception and to support the provision of person-centered contraceptive counseling and services in a noncoercive manner. Health care providers should always consider the individual clinical circumstances of each person seeking contraceptive services. This report is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice for individual patients; when needed, patients should seek advice from their health care providers about contraceptive use.
U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024
Summary
The 2024 U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (U.S. SPR) addresses a selected group of common, yet sometimes complex, issues regarding initiation and use of specific contraceptive methods. These recommendations for health care providers were updated by CDC after review of the scientific evidence and a meeting with national experts in Atlanta, Georgia, during January 25–27, 2023. The information in this report replaces the 2016 U.S. SPR (CDC. U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2016. MMWR 2016;65[No. RR-4]:1–66). Notable updates include 1) updated recommendations for provision of medications for intrauterine device placement, 2) updated recommendations for bleeding irregularities during implant use, 3) new recommendations for testosterone use and risk for pregnancy, and 4) new recommendations for self-administration of injectable contraception. The recommendations in this report are intended to serve as a source of evidence-based clinical practice guidance for health care providers. The goals of these recommendations are to remove unnecessary medical barriers to accessing and using contraception and to support the provision of person-centered contraceptive counseling and services in a noncoercive manner. Health care providers should always consider the individual clinical circumstances of each person seeking contraceptive services. This report is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice for individual patients; when needed, patients should seek advice from their health care providers about contraceptive use.
U.S. MEC and U.S. SPR Provider Tools
At a glance
This page provides tools health care providers can use when counseling patients on birth control.
The resources relate to the U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC) and the U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (U.S. SPR).
U.S. MEC downloads and resources
CDC Publications On Demand Limited amount of provider tools and MMWRs available to order.
Contraception App New app released in 2024! Includes updated recommendations from 2024 U.S. MEC and U.S. SPR. The Contraception app is an easy-to-use reference for CDC’s contraception guidance for health care providers. The app is available for iOS and Android operating systems.
MEC Summary Chart – English, color, 8.5" x 14" | English, black and white, 8.5" x 14" The charts can be printed double-sided, laminated, and used by health care providers when counseling patients.
U.S. SPR downloads and resources
CDC Publications On Demand Limited amount of provider tools and MMWRs available to order.
Contraception App New app released in 2024! Includes updated recommendations from 2024 U.S. MEC and U.S. SPR. The Contraception app is an easy-to-use reference for CDC’s contraception guidance for health care providers. The app is available for iOS and Android operating systems.
When to Start Contraceptive Methods and Routine Follow-Up This provider tool summarizes information from the U.S. SPR. It includes How to Be Reasonably Certain That a Patient Is Not Pregnant, When to Start Using Specific Contraceptive Methods, and Routine Follow-Up After Contraceptive Initiation.
What to Do If Late, Missed, or Delayed Combined Hormonal Contraception This provider tool from the U.S. SPR contains Recommended Actions After Late or Missed Combined Oral Contraceptives, Recommended Actions After Delayed Application or Detachment With Combined Hormonal Patch, and Recommended Actions After Delayed Placement or Replacement With Combined Vaginal Ring.
What to Do If Late or Missed Progestin-Only Pills This provider tool from the U.S. SPR contains Recommended Actions After Late or Missed Progestin-Only Pills.
Management of Bleeding Irregularities While Using Contraception and Management of IUDs When Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) Is Found This provider tool contains two diagrams presented in the U.S. SPR. It includes recommendations for the Management of Bleeding Irregularities While Using Contraception and recommendations for the Management of IUDs When Users Are Found to Have Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.
Additional resources
Providing Quality Family Planning Services in the United States: Recommendations of the U.S. Office of Population Affairs (Revised 2024)
These recommendations outline how to provide quality sexual and reproductive health services for people of reproductive age but can also be used to guide the care of people of any age when the content is relevant to their needs, including family-building services, contraception, pregnancy testing and counseling, early pregnancy management, sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus prevention and testing services, and other preventive health services.
Reproductive Health National Training Center (RHNTC)
Clinical Training Center for Sexual and Reproductive Health (CTC-SRH)
Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021
Improving Access to Quality Sexual and Reproductive Health Services for Teens
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