Research gaps in evidence-based contraception guidance: US Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024, and US Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes evidence-based contraception guidelines to assist healthcare providers when counseling patients about safe and effective contraceptive use. The US Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (US MEC) and the US Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (US SPR) have been updated on a regular basis, with the most recent full update published in 2024. This paper provides an overview of research gaps identified throughout the update process and discusses in further depth evidence gaps on several topics, including risk of thrombosis with hormonal contraception, medications for intrauterine device placement, and bleeding irregularities during implant use. Expanded study on these research gaps is needed to bolster guidelines and to improve safe and effective delivery of contraception.