CDC Contraceptive Guidance for Health Care Providers

At a glance

This page provides a brief overview of the 2024 U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC), the 2024 U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (U.S. SPR), and links to the latest guidance documents.

U.S. MEC and U.S. SPR logos

CDC contraceptive guidance for health care providers

The goals of these recommendations are to remove unnecessary medical barriers to accessing and using contraception and to support providing person-centered contraceptive counseling and services in a noncoercive manner.

The 2024 U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC)

The 2024 U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC) comprises recommendations for the use of specific contraceptive methods by persons who have certain characteristics or medical conditions.

The 2024 U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (U.S. SPR)

The 2024 U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (U.S. SPR) addresses a selected group of common, yet sometimes complex, issues regarding initiation and use of specific contraceptive methods.

Additional resources