Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2023 Dec:91:102408.
doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2023.102408. Epub 2023 Aug 19.

An overview of contraception in women with obesity

Affiliations
Review

An overview of contraception in women with obesity

Wafaa Ali Belail Hammad et al. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

The use of safe and effective contraception is essential for preventing unplanned pregnancy in women of all body sizes. When counseling women with obesity about contraception, it is important to consider the pharmacokinetic alterations of obesity on various modern contraceptive methods. However, evidence is reassuring that most contraceptive methods are safe and effective in women with obesity. Individual countries and the World Health Organization have published Medical Eligibility Criteria to guide contraceptive selection in women with medical issues including obesity. When choosing contraception, specific risks of the method relative to any underlying medical disorders must also be balanced against the risks of unintended pregnancy in this group.

Keywords: Combined hormonal contraception; Contraception; Implants and lactational amenorrhea; Obesity; Pharmacokinetics; Safety.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

  • Contraception and sexual health in obese women.
    Simmons KB, Edelman AB. Simmons KB, et al. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2015 May;29(4):466-78. doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2014.10.005. Epub 2014 Oct 22. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2015. PMID: 25498914 Review.
  • Risk of unintended pregnancy based on intended compared to actual contraceptive use.
    Reeves MF, Zhao Q, Secura GM, Peipert JF. Reeves MF, et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Jul;215(1):71.e1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2016.01.162. Epub 2016 Jan 21. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016. PMID: 26805610
  • Canadian Contraception Consensus (Part 2 of 4).
    Black A, Guilbert E; Co-Authors; Costescu D, Dunn S, Fisher W, Kives S, Mirosh M, Norman WV, Pymar H, Reid R, Roy G, Varto H, Waddington A, Wagner MS, Whelan AM; Special Contributors; Ferguson C, Fortin C, Kielly M, Mansouri S, Todd N. Black A, et al. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2015 Nov;37(11):1033-9. doi: 10.1016/s1701-2163(16)30054-8. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2015. PMID: 26629725 English, French.
  • New IPPF statement on breastfeeding, fertility and post-partum contraception.
    International Planned Parenthood Federation IPPF. International Medical Advisory Panel IMAP. International Planned Parenthood Federation IPPF. International Medical Advisory Panel IMAP. IPPF Med Bull. 1990 Apr;24(2):2-4. IPPF Med Bull. 1990. PMID: 12316285
  • Canadian Contraception Consensus (Part 1 of 4).
    Black A, Guilbert E; Co-Authors; Costescu D, Dunn S, Fisher W, Kives S, Mirosh M, Norman WV, Pymar H, Reid R, Roy G, Varto H, Waddington A, Wagner MS, Whelan AM; Special Contributors; Ferguson C, Fortin C, Kielly M, Mansouri S, Todd N; Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. Black A, et al. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2015 Oct;37(10):936-42. doi: 10.1016/s1701-2163(16)30033-0. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2015. PMID: 26606712 English, French.

Cited by

  • PCOS and Obesity: Contraception Challenges.
    Meczekalski B, Rasi M, Battipaglia C, Fidecicchi T, Bala G, Szeliga A, Luisi S, Genazzani AD. Meczekalski B, et al. Open Access J Contracept. 2025 May 5;16:43-58. doi: 10.2147/OAJC.S501434. eCollection 2025. Open Access J Contracept. 2025. PMID: 40352401 Free PMC article. Review.

Substances

LinkOut - more resources