Skip to main content
  1. Right Decisions
  2. DGRefHelp - NHS Dumfries & Galloway
  3. Sexual health
  4. Back
  5. Contraception
  6. UK medical eligibility criteria
Update your RDS mobile app to v4.7.2 to download toolkits even when website is down.

We are pleased to advise that deep linking capability, enabling users to directly download individual mobile toolkits, has now been released on the RDS mobile app. You will see that each toolkit has a small QR code icon in the header area beside the search icon – see screenshot below. Clicking on this icon will open up a window with a full-size QR code and the alternative of a short URL for sharing with users. Instructions are provided.

You may need to actively update to the latest release - RDS app version 4.7.1 - to see this improvement.

Updating to this latest version of the RDS app is also strongly recommended to get the full benefits of the new resilience  arrangements – specifically, that if the RDS website should fail, you will still be able to download new mobile app toolkits. To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number.  To install latest updates:

On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Please get in touch with ann.wales3@nhs.scot with any questions.

UK medical eligibility criteria

Some medical conditions are associated with increased health risks when certain contraceptive methods are used. The UK medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use (UKMEC) offer guidance on who can safely use contraceptive methods.

The UKMEC assigns personal characteristics and medical conditions to category 1, 2, 3, or 4, based on the safety of using different contraceptive methods with these characteristics/conditions. These categories are described in the table below:

UKMEC Definition of category
Category 1 A condition for which there is no restriction for the use of the method
Category 2 A condition where the advantages of using the method generally outweigh the
theoretical or proven risks
Category 3 A condition where the theoretical or proven risks usually outweigh the
advantages of using the method. The provision of a method requires expert
clinical judgement and/or referral to a specialist contraceptive provider, since
use of the method is not usually recommended unless other more appropriate
methods are not available or not acceptable
Category 4 A condition which represents an unacceptable health risk if the method is used

The above table is reproduced under licence from FSRH.
Copyright Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare 2006 to 2016.

UK Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (UKMEC)