emergency contraception (EC) and obesity
Last edited 03/2020 and last reviewed 11/2020
Emergency contraception (EC)
- available evidence suggests that effectiveness of the copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) is not affected by body weight or BMI
- 1.5 mg levonorgestrel emergency contraception (LNG-EC) appears to be less effective in women with BMI >26 kg/m2 or weight >70 kg
- Ulipristal acetate EC (UPA-EC) may be less effective in women with BMI >30 kg/m2 or weight >85 kg
FSRH state (1):
- women should be informed that the Cu-IUD is the most effective method of EC
- women should be informed that BMI >26 kg/m2 or weight >70 kg may reduce the effectiveness
of oral EC, particularly of LNG-EC
- consider UPA-EC and, if this is not suitable, double-dose (3 mg) LNG-EC if BMI >26 kg/m2 or weight >70 kg. The effectiveness of double-dose LNG-EC is unknown
- double-dose UPA-EC is not recommended for women of any body weight or BMI
Reference:
- FSRH (April 2019). Overweight, Obesity & Contraception