Medical Eligibility Criteria

This tool is the digital version of the MEC Wheel. It contains the medical eligibility criteria for starting use of contraceptive methods, based on Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 5th edition (2015), one of WHO’s evidence-based guidelines. It guides family planning providers in recommending safe and effective contraception methods for women with medical conditions or medically-relevant characteristics.

The tool includes recommendations on initiating use of nine common types of contraceptive methods:

1. Combined pills, COC (low dose combined oral contraceptives, with ≤ 35 μg ethinyl estradiol)

2. Combined contraceptive patch, P

3. Combined contraceptive vaginal ring, CVR

4. Combined injectable contraceptives, CIC

5. Progestogen-only pills, POP

6. Progestogen-only injectables, DMPA (IM,SC)/NET-EN (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate intramuscular or subcutaneous or norethisterone enantate intramuscular)

7. Progestogen-only implants, LNG/ETG (levonorgestrel or etonogestrel)

8. Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device, LNG-IUD

9. Copper-bearing intrauterine device, Cu-IUD