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UKMEC categories
Is this method safe for her?
Source: UKMEC 2025 (CoSRH)Category
| 1 | No restriction. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Benefits generally outweigh risks. |
| 3 | Risks usually outweigh benefits. |
| 4 | Unacceptable health risk — do not use. |
UKMEC 4 for combined pill/patch/ring
- <3 weeks postpartum with other VTE risk factors
- Age ≥35 smoking ≥15/day
- BP ≥160/100 (clinic)
- Past or current VTE; known thrombogenic mutation
- Stroke, TIA, vascular disease
- Migraine with aura
- Current breast cancer
- SLE with antiphospholipid antibodies
A summary for trained clinicians. Always check the full guideline, the patient in front of you and your hospital's protocol. Spotted an error? Tell us.