Looking for women's advice about BC and weightloss

Hey Ladies,

So 3 years ago I had Implanon placed in my arm for my birth control. One of the side effects like most anything else....is weight gain. It doesn't affect everyone the same, such as your cycles. I currently basically have no cycle. My body im sure still experiences and I will feel fatigued or get some headaches but I do not bleed (at all!!) Sounds great right? Well.....in the past 3 years this is the most I have ever weighed in my life when I am not pregnant. I understand I am getting older and maybe dont always eat healthy and get exercise in (hense why I am here and trying so hard). I truly believe the Implanon has had a serious impact on my weight and the way my body feels. The only ever birth control I have ever been on is the pill, which the doctor took me off of because of the effect the hormones would have and give me migraines. I have debated just having it removed and see how my body feels, or see if the weight would come off easier. I am struggling right now, I am putting in the effort and the healthy diet and its like its glued to me. It is just not coming off. Has anyone had any experience with this, and what did you do about it? Any advice or tips about what I could switch to? Thanxs.

Replies

  • lisaward111
    lisaward111 Posts: 30 Member
    3 years ago I was on birth control pills I weighed 125 and I gained 40 pounds I had to get off the birth control pills the doctor said don't blame it on the pills don't blame it on birth control. it is kind of true because I got with my partner around that time and I started eating out a lot and I started being lazyso I think most of it is because of getting older and maybe a little bit because of the birth control but I got off the birth control and every so often I would do some exercise and try to eat better but I still haven't lost weight for the past two weeks I've been on a diet and exercising every day I have not lost weight yet but I think it is best for your body to have a break from the birth control to see how your body reacts. 2 weeks ago I also got birth control I'm on the marina so I think it's okay my body is getting used to have it but I will see in two more weeks if I lose any weight.
    amylynn96 wrote: »
    Hey Ladies,

    So 3 years ago I had Implanon placed in my arm for my birth control. One of the side effects like most anything else....is weight gain. It doesn't affect everyone the same, such as your cycles. I currently basically have no cycle. My body im sure still experiences and I will feel fatigued or get some headaches but I do not bleed (at all!!) Sounds great right? Well.....in the past 3 years this is the most I have ever weighed in my life when I am not pregnant. I understand I am getting older and maybe dont always eat healthy and get exercise in (hense why I am here and trying so hard). I truly believe the Implanon has had a serious impact on my weight and the way my body feels. The only ever birth control I have ever been on is the pill, which the doctor took me off of because of the effect the hormones would have and give me migraines. I have debated just having it removed and see how my body feels, or see if the weight would come off easier. I am struggling right now, I am putting in the effort and the healthy diet and its like its glued to me. It is just not coming off. Has anyone had any experience with this, and what did you do about it? Any advice or tips about what I could switch to? Thanxs.

  • amylynn96
    amylynn96 Posts: 114 Member
    Lisa, I would be interested to know if you did start loosing or saw a change in birth control. I have no doubt that my weight gain is part my fault for not caring about my diet or not trying to exercise. I don't blame the birth control completely. I think its a combination of both. The fact that I have NEVER weighed this much in my life when I wasn't pregnant, it just seems like it is affecting my weight. I just have this feeling that my body would FEEL better off of it and maybe go back on the pill (then I would deal with the migraines again. Im pretty scared about trying and IUD, i got the Implanon because its basically the same thing but in your arm. Id like to hear from some ladies with mirena about their weight and weight loss experiences.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Hormones are how your body feeds itself- which is why relying on hunger is a bad way to feed your self. so if you throw a chemical in there that specifically messes with your hormones- you have to be extra vigilant on what is gain/loss/maintenance.

    It isn't the pill that's causing weight gain- the only thing that does that is eating a calorie surplus but- the pill messes with your hormones- so that could be feeding you weird singles.

    but you just have to be vigilant. I've been on the pill for years- it hasn't made me ever gain weight (and I've been on and off several different brands/types)
  • amylynn96
    amylynn96 Posts: 114 Member
    Im not on the pill. I have Implanon. I took the pill 9 years and never had a significant weight gain. Ive had the implanon for 3 years and have gained at least 25 pounds in that time. Yes I know its my eating habits and not exercising as much as I should. However, recognizing that I have changed my eating habits and started exercising and i seem to be having a lot of trouble loosing.
  • engodwin
    engodwin Posts: 516 Member
    Not sure weather to be mad or happy about this thread... I had the implanon for three years and during that time gained 20 lbs. (That is a LOT for a 5'1" petit lady like myself.) Never really put two and two together until just now. Fighting the weight off now... Grrr mad I didn't think of this before now.
  • amylynn96
    amylynn96 Posts: 114 Member
    See, sometimes I feel crazy for believing it plays such a big role. Before I got the Implanon 3 years ago I researched it to death. I read a lot about "well I gained a lot of weight", or "I bleed non stop". Everybody's body is different so I went with it. It was great at first, like I said I hardly ever get a period. I had it for 3 years and just recently had it removed and put the new Nexplanon in. I feel like now that I am paying so much attention to my diet and exercises it seems very obvious that it has contributed. What I don't know, is if its why I am having trouble losing.
  • kwiatrtdy
    kwiatrtdy Posts: 383 Member
    I have Nexplanon (which I think is the UK version of Implanon) but I haven't gained weight on it. I used to be on the jab though and that was catastrophic. I've still got a loose fitting chiffon blouse that I bought the same day as having one of my jabs and then 7 days later I couldn't even get it done up, the weight gain was that dramatic. Overall I think I gained about 60lbs in 3 months.
  • GothyFaery
    GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
    edited October 2014
    I've been on the pill (Yasmin) since I first got my period. It helped my cramps which are so bad, I was once kicked out of class for being a disturbance. A few years ago the makers Yasmin were being sued and it made my husband really nervous so he asked me to switch. Every other pill I tried gave me what my DR called menstrual migraines.

    She basically said that my body went into estrogen withdrawal when I was on my sugar pill week. I tried 4 different pills and gave them all 3-4 months and none of them worked. I finally went back to Yasmin. I do still get menstrual migraines occasionally (like this month) but nowhere near as often or sever. I've also been able to lose over 40 pounds while on it.

    You may just have to try a few different things out and see what works for you. Everyone is different but if you're like me, I would suggest trying a lower estrogen pill at first.