Abstract
The biological capacity for pregnancy complicates the impact of obesity on the health
and well-being of women. Consequently, the ability to prevent or plan pregnancies
through the use of contraception is critical for obese women. Unfortunately, contraception
is often forgotten or feared in women with chronic medical problems like obesity.
This review addresses the safety and efficacy of hormonal contraceptive methods in
obese women. Generally, the risks of pregnancy outweigh the risks of hormonal contraception
in an obese woman, but obesity is a significant risk factor for thrombosis, which
should be taken into account when recommending a combined hormonal method. Limited
data suggest that the efficacy of some hormonal methods may be reduced in obese women.
Keywords
obesity - body mass index - efficacy - safety - unplanned pregnancy - venous thromboembolism
