Long-acting reversible contraception : the effective and appropriate use of long-acting reversible contraception / National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health ; commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

"Contraception can be divided into two broad categories: hormonal and nonhormonal. There are two categories of hormonal contraception: combined oestrogen and progestogen and progestogen-only. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is defined in this guideline as methods that require administering less than once per cycle or month. Included in the category of LARC are the copper intrauterine devices (nonhormonal) and three progestogen-only methods of contraception (intrauterine system, injectables and the implants). The combined vaginal ring is not licensed in the UK and is therefore excluded from this guideline. In 2003/04, about 8% of women aged 16-49 years in Great Britain used LARC as a method of contraception." -- Introduction.