27th June 2023

UK Contraceptive Options

The prescribing of contraceptives requires a consideration of multiple factors, including the person’s preferences, family aspirations, and lifestyle. Without contraception, 85% of premenopausal women would conceive within one year of regular unprotected intercourse.

Before a contraceptive method is chosen, the efficacy of each choice, as well as common adverse effects, should be discussed. Some contraceptives have interactions with other medications; for example, the enzyme-inducing agent rifampicin lessens the effectiveness of the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP).

The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare has provided guidance in the form of the ‘UKMEC Summary of Hormonal and Intrauterine Contraception’ – this provides an easy cross-reference tool for clinicians to assess the suitability of a contraceptive based on a patient’s characteristics and comorbidities. The guidance rating is given as a number ranging from 1-4, with a 1 being no contraindications, a 2 being benefits outweigh risks, 3 suggesting risks may outweigh benefits, and 4 meaning that the use of the contraceptive poses an unacceptable health risk.