ACOG Releases Contraceptive Guide For OB/GYNS

Determining the safety of the many available contraceptive options for patients has just become easier, thanks to a new guide for OB/GYNs released by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG. Obstet Gynecol. 2011;118:754-760).

“Nearly half of all pregnancies in the US are unplanned,” said Eve Esprey, MD, MPH, chair of ACOG’s Long- Acting Reversible Contraception Work Group, who helped develop the guide. “Women with certain medical conditions are at higher risk for adverse outcomes with an unintended pregnancy, and these recommendations can assist clinicians in helping patients choose the most appropriate contraceptive method.”

Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s US Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2010, the guide rates the safety of different contraceptives on a scale of 1 to 4 according to a woman’s age, health status, and preexisting medical conditions. Category 1 indicates no restrictions for use of a contraceptive method, whereas category 4 denotes that a method could pose an unacceptable health risk. Featuring more than 65 medical conditions and characteristics listed alphabetically and paired with appropriate contraceptive methods, the guide includes the revised guidelines for the use of contraceptives during the postpartum period issued in July 2011.