Table 6. WHO recommendations 2015*—age and smoking, modified from (2).
Risk | COC | Patch/ring | POP |
3-monthly injection |
Gestagen implant |
Copper spiral |
Levonorgestrel spiral |
Age <35 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Age >35 <15 cigarettes/d 15 cigarettes/d |
3 4 |
3 4 |
1 1 |
1 1 |
1 1 |
1 1 |
1 1 |
COC, combined oral contraceptives; POP, progesterone-only pill.
*1, no restriction on use of method; 2, benefit > risk; 3, risk > benefit; 4, the method should not be used because the risk to health is too high.