Select a medical condition and see the UKMEC safety category (1–4) for each contraceptive method. This shows the published eligibility framework — it tells you what's safe, not which method to pick. Efficacy, patient preference and the full clinical picture are yours and your patient's to weigh.
📋 Source:UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (UKMEC 2025), College of Sexual and Reproductive Health (CoSRH, formerly FSRH). UKMEC is referenced in Australian practice alongside the WHO MEC; see Family Planning Australia. Verified June 2026.
This is a condensed reference for a limited set of common conditions — not the full UKMEC. Confirm every category against the current UKMEC document, which contains the complete tables, sub-conditions and clinical notes. Educational reference only, not clinical advice; the contraceptive decision rests with the clinician and patient.
⚠ Safety category, not a recommendation. UKMEC categories describe the safety of a method given a condition — they do not indicate the best method, do not account for efficacy or drug interactions, and are not additive (two category-2 conditions don't make a 4). Where a patient has multiple conditions, apply clinical judgement and the full UKMEC. This tool covers selected common conditions only.
Select a condition
Categories shown are for initiation of each method. Some conditions differ for continuation, or have sub-conditions (severity, duration) — always check the full UKMEC for the specific scenario.
What the categories mean
Category 1 — No restriction. The method can always be used.
Category 2 — Advantages generally outweigh risks. Broadly usable.
Category 3 — Risks generally outweigh advantages. Not usually recommended unless more suitable methods are unavailable or unacceptable — needs careful individualised assessment.
Category 4 — Unacceptable health risk. The method should not be used.
Educational reference only. This is a condensed, selected-condition summary of the UKMEC framework for clinician reference. It is not the complete UKMEC, does not capture every sub-condition, does not address efficacy or drug interactions, and is not a recommendation of any method for any patient. Confirm all categories against the current UKMEC. The contraceptive choice is a shared decision between clinician and patient. Not medical advice.