Diabetes Standards of Care and Resources for Clinicians and Educators

Recommendations for Contraception

• Beginning at puberty, discuss sexual activity, the need for pregnancy prevention or planning, and contraception as part of routine diabetes care for women.
• Providers need to assess each woman’s situation:
  • Women with diabetes should be considered for contraception, preferably a form that is long-acting such as an intrauterine device (IUD) or Contraceptive Implant since these methods have much lower failure rates.
  • For women not on a long-acting form of contraception, consider prescribing only those diabetes-related medications that are safe in the event of an unplanned pregnancy.
• Discuss with patients the increased risk of pregnancy with medications such as metformin and thiazolidinediones (TZDs) that may increase fertility:
  • Offer contraception when starting these medications.

Featured Contraception Resources

Organization	Resource
	U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024 (U.S. MEC) Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024 (U.S. SPR) Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
	Birth Control Methods Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  Birth Control Methods Fact Sheet Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  [PDF]

Contraception Patient Education Resources

Organization	Resource
	Contraception and Birth Control Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
	Birth Control Methods Fact Sheet Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  [PDF]