Effect of Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills on Body Mass Index (BMI) in Women Attending Family Planning Centres, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To see the effect of combined oral contraceptive pills on Body Mass Index (BMI) of women. 
Study Design: A descriptive study. 
Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted at Family Planning Centers at social obstetrical unit 
Baqai Medical University and Reproductive and Health Sciences (RHS) Institute, a family planning unit, at Jinnah 
Post Graduate Medical Center Karachi, from November 2010 to April 2011. 
Subjects and Methods: This study was carried out on 50 patients of reproductive age 20-40 years. Patients with 
Cardiac, Renal and Liver dysfunction were excluded. Diabetic women taking sedative and hypnotics, anti-tubercular 
treatment were also excluded. All routine investigations were performed. BMI was done on initial visit re-evaluated 
after one, three & six months and data was analyzed. 
Results: Fifty women were selected. They were divided into four categories, Control (category 0) i.e. before the 
start of COCPs, after 1 month (category 1), 3 months (category 2) and 6 months (category 3). On initial visit mean 
BMI of control is found to be 22.53 ± 1.92. Category 1 showed mean BMI of 22.53 ± 1.92 kg/m2 while BMI of 
category 2 is 22.53 ± 1.92 kg/m2 category 3 is 22.91 ± 1.87. 
After completion of study mean increase in BMI of category 3 was 0.38 kg/m2. 
Conclusion: Mean increase in BMI of category 3 is negligible.