The World Health Organisation has unveiled updated recommendations aimed at widening access to contraceptive methods, while projecting that new reversible contraceptives for men could become available within the next five to 10 years.
The global health body announced the development in its updated guidelines on expanding contraceptive options, published on September 23, 2026.
The announcement comes as the world marks World Contraception Day on September 26, an annual observance focused on raising awareness about reproductive health and access to family planning.
According to WHO, about 164 million women who want to prevent or delay pregnancy are currently not using contraception, underscoring the need to expand access to safe and effective options.
Under the new recommendations, combined oral contraceptive pills may be used continuously for up to one year or for extended periods of up to six months, offering alternatives to the conventional cyclical approach.
The organisation also supports extending the use of etonogestrel-releasing contraceptive implants to as long as five years. It said the approach could reduce the frequency of replacement procedures and clinic visits while lowering associated costs.
For emergency contraception, WHO has added mifepristone as another option, recommending that it be taken as soon as possible and within five days of unprotected sex. Evidence reviewed by the organisation indicates that doses ranging from 10mg to 50mg are likely to be comparable in safety and effectiveness to other emergency contraceptive methods.
Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, said contraceptive services should provide people with options that reflect their individual needs and circumstances.
“Choice is a gender equality issue,” Allotey said, adding that contraception should not be treated as a one-size-fits-all solution.
She said people should have the freedom and confidence to select a contraceptive method, change it when necessary or discontinue its use.
WHO is also seeking to expand contraceptive options available to men, noting that their choices are currently largely limited to condoms, withdrawal and vasectomy. Despite the limited range, the organisation said about 30 per cent of couples rely on a male contraceptive method.
The organisation said recent research has challenged the assumption that men would be unwilling to use new contraceptive methods.
More than 75 per cent of couples surveyed said they would consider using a new male contraceptive, while over 85 per cent of women surveyed indicated that they would trust their male partners to take responsibility for contraception.
To guide the development of future products, WHO has introduced its first Target Product Profiles for novel male contraceptives. The profiles establish minimum and preferred characteristics that developers should consider, including effectiveness, safety, reversibility, acceptability and affordability.
The framework covers several approaches to male contraception, including methods aimed at suppressing sperm production, interfering with sperm function and preventing sperm transmission.
WHO said a number of hormonal and non-hormonal male contraceptive candidates are currently being investigated, with some already in advanced clinical trials. Based on the progress of research and development, the organisation said new reversible male contraceptives could reach the market within the next five to 10 years.
While expanding contraceptive choices, WHO also highlighted methods for which it said more evidence is required.
The organisation called for additional research into ormeloxifene before the method is considered for inclusion in family planning programmes, citing insufficient evidence on its safety.
It also recommended against incorporating quinestrol-containing contraceptive pills into national contraceptive programmes, pointing to limited evidence and reports of serious adverse events.
WHO said the updated guidance is intended to assist countries in reviewing their family planning policies and programmes and ensuring that contraceptive services are informed by the best available scientific evidence.
