Quality standard
This quality standard covers contraception for women, including emergency contraception. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.
It does not cover sexual health and preventing sexually transmitted infections.
It does not cover areas of national policy. However, the Department of Health’s Commissioning sexual health services and interventions: best practice for local authorities should be read alongside this quality standard.
Last reviewed: 8 September 2016
Next review: This guidance will be reviewed if there is new evidence that is likely to change the recommendations.
How to use NICE quality standards and how we develop them
Quality standards help you improve the quality of care you provide or commission. They apply in England and Wales (see the UK government website and Welsh government website). Decisions on how they apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland are made by ministers in the Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive.
Find out how to use quality standards and how we develop them. We check our quality standards every August to make sure they are up to date.