World Health Organization

Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use World Health Organization 2nd edition

This publication is the companion guideline to WHO's Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use. It aims to improve access to quality care in family planning by providing guidance on the safe and effective use of contraceptive methods once they are deemed to be medically appropriate. The book is intended to be used by policy-makers, programme managers, and the scientific community, and aims to provide guidance to national family planning and reproductive health programmes in the preparation of guidelines for service delivery of contraceptives.

It contains 33 specific questions with recommendations, including 10 new questions for this second edition. Recommendations are given on initiation/continuation of methods; incorrect method use; problems during use such as vomiting and/or diarrhoea, menstrual abnormalities, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pregnancy; and programmatic issues, such as exams and tests required for method use. Recommendations are based on the latest clinical and epidemiological data, and developed through consensus at an International Expert Working Group meeting.

The book covers the following family planning methods: combined oral contraceptives, combined injectable, contraceptives, progestogen-only pills, DMPA, NET-EN, levonorgestrel implants, emergency contraceptive pills, copper-bearing IUDs, levonorgestrel-releasing IUDs, fertility awareness-based methods, and male & female sterilization.