New quick reference guide for primary care to accompany our Overweight, Obesity and Contraception guideline
Date: 10 Jul 2019
Type: FSRH Clinical Guidance and Clinical Statements

This summary document is available for FSRH members behind login under 'My Resources'.
This summary has been written as a quick reference guide to help busy clinicians give clear, safe advice when providing contraceptive care to women who are overweight (BMI ≥25–29.9 kg/m2) and women with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2).
All women of reproductive age should have access to safe and effective contraception. Currently, over half of adult women in the UK are overweight or obese, with numbers expected to increase over time.
This summary has been written as a quick reference guide to help busy clinicians give clear, safe advice when providing contraceptive care to women who are overweight (BMI ≥25–29.9 kg/m2) and women with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). You can also refer to the full 2019 FSRH Overweight, Obesity and Contraception Clinical guideline for further information and evidence for this advice.
The guideline and its summary provide information and guidance on:
- the effect of overweight/obesity on safety and effectiveness of all contraceptive methods
- the effect of contraceptive methods on weight for women with raised BMI/bodyweight
- special considerations for use of each contraceptive method by women with obesity
Read the quick-reference guide here (log in needed).