In 1987 the Swedish social and health service issued advice about contraception with factual recommendations about the available contraceptive methods. Since 1987 a new copper IUD and a hormonal IUD have been introduced, and a number of reports have been published about the short- and long-term effects of combined oral contraceptives (OCs). Therefore, the pharmaceutical bureau issued new recommendations. For postcoital contraception, the effectiveness of 4 high-dose OCs has been convincingly proven when given in 2 doses within 72 hours after intercourse; also the insertion of an IUD postcoitally has been mentioned. Another method is the hormonal IUD, Levonova, which has been recommended for women who need long-term and safe contraception. The new copper IUD with a large copper surface (Gyne-T- Slimline) can even be recommended to women who face an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy on the basis of documented high contraceptive effectiveness. A new recommendation concerning the use of the IUD is that women who had a copper or hormonal IUD inserted at around age 40 do not have to exchange the well-functioning IUD after the prescribed duration of use of 5-8 years. The use of combined OCs had also been contraindicated in women aged 35-40 because of the risk of cardiovascular complications with earlier high-dose preparations. However, new studies have not been able to confirm that women of this age group who do not smoke and have no cardiovascular risk factors run any kind of increased risk of cardiovascular complications. Thus, even after 40 women could use OCs. The net effect of comparing the advantages and disadvantages of OCs is positive. This overwhelming positive effect has even led to suggestions about the sale of OCs without a prescription.