New Guidance on Contraception While Breast-Feeding

The CDC recently updated the U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (US MEC), which provides guidance on the safety of available contraceptives for women with specific health conditions.1 Updates for breast-feeding women include revised recommendations categorized by risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and postpartum day (<21 days, 21 to <30 days, 30 to 42 days, and >42 days). In addition, guidance on placement of levonorgestrel intrauterine contraceptives within 10 minutes of placental delivery has been updated for women who want to breast-feed.

Evidence supporting these revised recommendations is summarized in two systematic reviews2^,3 on breast-feeding performance (i.e., duration and exclusivity) and infant health outco…