Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (India-adapted WHO MEC Wheel) The India-adapted MEC wheel (2022-23) contains the medical eligibility criteria for starting use of contraceptive methods. It has been adapted from WHO MEC Wheel for contraceptive use and is based on Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 4th and 5th edition (2008 and 2015). It guides family planning providers in recommending safe and effective contraceptive methods for women with medical conditions or medically relevant characteristics.

The wheel includes recommendations on initiating use of seven common types of contraceptives:

Combined pills (low dose combined oral contraceptives, with < 35 Ug ethinylestradiol) and combined injectable contraceptives

1. Centchroman pills
2. Progestogen-only pills
3. Progestogen-only injectables. DMPA (a 3-monthly injectable) and NET-EN (a 2-monthly injectable)
4. Progestogen-only implants
5. Copper-bearing IUCD
6. Levonorgestrel Intra Uterine Device (LNG-IUD)

The guidance in the wheel applies to initiation of contraceptive methods. Recommendations for continuation of method use, when a woman develops a medical condition while using the method, can be found in the Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use guidelines.

This is an e-version of India-adapted WHO MEC Wheel by MoHFW.