BMI, obesity and contraception

Obesity has ongoing implications for all areas of patient care, which includes contraception and preventing unwanted pregnancy. Providing safe, effective and appropriate contraception which is acceptable to women can be a challenge for nurses working in any service, but particularly for practice nurses in a primary care setting, where time is limited to 10 minute appointments and contraceptive consultations are often left to nurses without any training or qualifications in this area.

Nurses delivering contraception to women with a BMI above normal need to be able to help them make a safe and informed decision regarding a contraceptive method which is appropriate and acceptable. This includes a full discussion of the risks of contraception associated with an increased BMI.