Improving access to postpartum contraception – a review of global guidelines with ESCRH consensus recommendations for Europe

Contraceptive counselling should be an integral component of pregnancy care. The antenatal period represents a critical window of opportunity to discuss postpartum contraceptive options, enabling women to make informed reproductive health decisions. The evidence clearly demonstrates the importance of timely counselling and provision of effective postpartum contraception to optimise interpregnancy intervals and prevent unintended pregnancies and abortions. Routine antenatal counselling has been shown to be a feasible and effective alternative to traditional postnatal follow-up - which typically occurs several weeks after childbirth, often within the primary care setting -, and the woman's preferred contraceptive method should be provided before hospital discharge following delivery whenever possible. This study provides a narrative review and comparison of the most recent global guidelines on postpartum contraception and proposes recommendations for Europe based on a European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESCRH) consensus.