Table 1

Summary table of recommendations for use of contraceptive methods by women with systemic lupus erythematosus (from the World Health Organization Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use5)

Condition	COC	CIC	P/R	POP	DMPA		LNG/ETG Implants	Cu-IUD		LNG-IUS
Systemic lupus erythematosus					I	C		I	C
(a) Positive (or unknown) antiphospholipid antibodies	4	4	4	3	3	3	3	1	1	3
(b) Severe thrombocytopenia	2	2	2	2	3	2	2	3	2	2
(c) Immunosuppressive treatment	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	2
(d) None of the above	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	2

C, continuation; CIC, combined injectable contraceptives; COC, combined oral contraceptives; Cu-IUD, copper-releasing intrauterine device; DMPA, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate; ETG, etonorgestrel; I, initiation; LNG, levonorgestrel; LNG-IUS, levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system; POP, progestogen-only pill; P/R, combined hormonal patch or ring. World Health Organization Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (WHOMEC) Categories 1–4 are as defined in the main text.