title: Updated Guidance for Safe and Effective Use of Contraception.
abstract: Progress has been made in efforts to reduce unintended pregnancy; however, unintended pregnancy remains a public health issue in the United States. A key component of reducing unintended pregnancy is to increase correct and consistent use of contraception by reducing barriers to access and use. The CDC has recently updated its guidance for the safe and effective use of contraception. The U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (US MEC), 2016, and U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (US SPR), 2016, are intended for healthcare providers to help patients choose a method that is safe and can be used effectively. The recommendations aim to reduce certain barriers to contraception and thus help women, men, and couples to control timing of pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Naomi K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Tepper
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Tara C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Jatlaoui
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors.forename: Maura K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Whiteman
mesh_terms: D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003267:Contraception / Q000592:standards*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D011634:Public Health; D014481:United States
keywords: CDC; contraception; guidelines