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Safe Prescribing Of Combined Hormonal Contraceptives Using The U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria For Contraceptive Use Guideline, Morgan E. Thomas

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Safe prescribing of combined hormonal contraceptives is important to prevent unplanned pregnancies and adverse effects including thrombotic events. Combined hormonal contraceptives can be taken safely but this relies on appropriate prescribing techniques by the healthcare provider. Prior to prescribing any type of contraception, health care providers should perform a risk assessment to anticipate and prevent patient complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created the United States Medical Eligibility Criteria (U.S. MEC) for contraceptive use guideline to help direct healthcare providers to assess patient risk factors, prescribe the safest form of contraception, and provide necessary teaching and follow-up. This …