[Contraception in the diabetic. Review of the literature]

This article points out the indications for the use of different contraceptive measures in diabetics according to the severity of the diabetes. It is very important for contraception to be used to space out pregnancies. It is known that good diabetic balance before pregnancy reduces the incidence of fetal malformations and of maternal complications in the pregnancy. Small dose progestogens can be used for this indication. If higher doses are used, only those derived from 17-hydroxyprogesterone and norpregnanes should be used. Intrauterine devices are contraindicated in women who have not had babies but they do not seem to raise the incidence of infection.