Can we talk birth control ladies ?

Ok so i recently started taking alesyna 28 , and my main huge concern is weight gain :

some people say : its all about controlling the amount of calories so if you don't overeat you WILL NOT GAIN WEIGHT WHILE ON BIRTH CONTROL PILLS

some say : doesn't matter even if you eat in moderation you will GAIN WEIGHT WHILE ON BIRTH CONTROL PILLS


What do you think?
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Replies

  • CoffeeNCardio
    CoffeeNCardio Posts: 1,847 Member
    edited November 2015
    "its all about controlling the amount of calories so if you don't overeat you WILL NOT GAIN WEIGHT WHILE ON BIRTH CONTROL PILLS"

    Birth control alters your hormones, which can increase your DESIRE to eat more, or even make you lethargic so you don't WANT to work out or move as much, but eating within your calorie limit will STILL result in weight loss. It is the MOST rare of drugs and medical conditions that actually prevent weight loss.

    End all be all: Your choices are influenced, but they're still your CHOICE.
  • happysquidmuffin
    happysquidmuffin Posts: 651 Member
    As a side note/caution, birth control pills can completely kill your ability to feel aroused. Doesn't happen to everyone on it, but I finally discovered after going off the pill that sex in fact, was NOT actually boring. :)
  • CoffeeNCardio
    CoffeeNCardio Posts: 1,847 Member
    As a side note/caution, birth control pills can completely kill your ability to feel aroused. Doesn't happen to everyone on it, but I finally discovered after going off the pill that sex in fact, was NOT actually boring. :)

    I had this, among MANY other problems with hormonal birth control. The Paraguard IUD (Mirena is the hormonal/chemical one, paraguard is drug free) is the best thing that ever happened to me.
  • Cats2626
    Cats2626 Posts: 27 Member
    mita271 wrote: »
    Ok so i recently started taking alesyna 28 , and my main huge concern is weight gain :

    some people say : its all about controlling the amount of calories so if you don't overeat you WILL NOT GAIN WEIGHT WHILE ON BIRTH CONTROL PILLS

    some say : doesn't matter even if you eat in moderation you will GAIN WEIGHT WHILE ON BIRTH CONTROL PILLS


    What do you think?

    I used to take birth control. At the time I was actively losing weight. I started taking the pill and ate the same as I had been. I regained no weight whatsoever and I continued to lose weight. Don't worry too much. And my doctor said if you do gain weight, it's only about 5-10 pounds, which you could lose easily. I once lost 16 pounds in a month. You'll be fine. :)
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    Birth control never made me gain weight.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Words cannot express how delighted I am that birth control is no longer an issue as my fiance has had a vasectomy.
  • Tblackdogs
    Tblackdogs Posts: 326 Member
    I've been on a variety of pills over the last 25 years or so. None of them have ever made me gain weight. I agree that hormones can affect your hunger but that happens naturally even if you're not on the pill.
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    I'm glad I'm sterile
  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    As a side note/caution, birth control pills can completely kill your ability to feel aroused. Doesn't happen to everyone on it, but I finally discovered after going off the pill that sex in fact, was NOT actually boring. :)

    I'm experiencing this with the pill and it's VERY frustrating. My boyfriend thinks it's his fault but I can't seem to explain to him that it's the hormones in the pill - not him! I am not the type to turn down sex ever, and normally I initiate it, so it's very upsetting when I WANT to have sex, but my body doesn't want to! Sadly there are MANY women who experience this same issue.
    The idea of having an IUD inside me is scary, but I may just have to suck it up. I hate putting hormones in my body.

    Back on topic... I haven't experienced any weight gain due to the pill. I believe the hormones in BC may make you crave food more, but that if you stay in a deficit (or maintenance) you shouldn't gain because of it.
  • Lathandria
    Lathandria Posts: 42 Member
    I had the Mirena IUD for 5 Years. I just had it taken out in June of this year. I gained about 30lbs while on it, but I didn't exactly eat the best either so whether or not it was all from the BC I couldn't really say. On a side note about Birth Control, I got sterilized when I had my Mirena taken out. I had the Essure put in and it is HELL. I have to see an obgyn this month about having a hysterectomy to have it removed. (Only way because its inserted in your Fallopian tubes permanently. ) And when my OB implanted it when he took my Mirena out, he said my Mirena IUD was lodged into me and he had to yank on it to get it out. He said if I was in his office trying to remove it he wouldn't have been able to and that I would have had to have surgery anyway. (I was already having surgery to have the Essure put in) But still..it freaked me the hell out. I don't recommend to ANYONE I know to get ANYTHING implanted into their body anymore. Have your man get a vasectomy or use condoms, seriously, its not worth it to me anymore.
  • Bonny132
    Bonny132 Posts: 3,617 Member
    I am currently trying to loose weight to change my birth control pills as it does not affect my hunger but my sex drive, and I am telling you this is a massive thing to me. Different people gets affected differently, so you may or may not put weight on. The human body is never easy to predict as we are all so different at the end of the day.
  • besee_2000
    besee_2000 Posts: 365 Member
    I was on the pill for years. Over time my libido just kept going lower and lower. Even during the week off I was much more "into it." I don't know if it was the main reason because I progressively have had more stress at work and workout a lot more. I would be too tired to do anything. I probably also had low blood sugar because hAngry was definitely a term in the house.

    I stopped taking it in Sept '14 and haven't had my period yet (naturally). This last month I went back on the pill just to induce one and hopefully reset things. I didn't gain weight or lose weight for that matter and libido went up for maybe the first month. Before the pill I had it down to a T 27 days and like 9hours. While yes its been nice not having to constantly deal with the fun of the bathroom massacre, I still feel uneasy about what the pill may or may not have done to me. My doctor doesn't find it unusual but your menstrual cycle is like your barometer. I'm constantly worrying I have some deficiency or tumor I don't yet know about.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.
  • MorganMoreaux
    MorganMoreaux Posts: 691 Member
    After 5 years I just had my Mirena removed Monday. Though I didn't gain weight omit, it absolutely killed my sex drive, and modified my system that sex has become a very unpleasant experience. There are other issues with the Mirena as well that I will not get into as you asked specifically about weight gain. Since having it removed, my appetite has decreased. Also since having it removed, I am experiencing a whole slur of new issues. Whatever you decide OP, I strongly recommend AGAINST Mirena. If you query the Internet you will find testimony and testimony advising against Mirena. Good luck!
  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Forcing them to buy and use condoms is wrong on so many levels... ? I don't see a problem.
  • mkakids
    mkakids Posts: 1,913 Member
    The first.
  • Untilproud11
    Untilproud11 Posts: 297 Member
    edited November 2015
    Great opinions everyone
    I recently lost 20 lbs and have a bit more to lose
    Im on a deficit and really watch portion sizes
    I honestly hope this wont wreck things up for me
  • mkakids
    mkakids Posts: 1,913 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Really? It's wrong to ask a man to use a condom? Is it wrong for a man to want the woman to be on birth control just so they can have sex?
  • Bonny132
    Bonny132 Posts: 3,617 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Forcing them to buy and use condoms is wrong on so many levels... ? I don't see a problem.

    Birth control is a two way thing, you have BOTH got responsibilities, and personally if a guy had a vasectomy and wanted to have unprotected sex with me, it be a no way Jose till he had his pecker checked out and tested at the doctors. I take my sexual health very seriously, and before going serious with my current partner, we discussed birth control, and before deciding I was going on the pill, we Both got tested.
  • LastingChanges
    LastingChanges Posts: 390 Member
    I took mine for a short period maybe a year. My issue with it isn't so much that I gained weight, but that it made me bloated and changed my body shape. Like instead of nice curves all you saw is bloating everywhere.
  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    Bonny132 wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Forcing them to buy and use condoms is wrong on so many levels... ? I don't see a problem.

    Birth control is a two way thing, you have BOTH got responsibilities, and personally if a guy had a vasectomy and wanted to have unprotected sex with me, it be a no way Jose till he had his pecker checked out and tested at the doctors. I take my sexual health very seriously, and before going serious with my current partner, we discussed birth control, and before deciding I was going on the pill, we Both got tested.

    Unfortunately it doesn't appear that most people think this way - it being both the man and woman's responsibility. I hear quite often more than anything, that it's the woman's responsibility alone. Which sucks. We're expected to pump our bodies with hormones that affect many aspects of our mental and physical state. Or, shove scary foreign objects in them.
    So, I don't really see a problem with her situation in which she makes it the man's responsibility. Would I do it that way? Nah, I'd have us both but the condoms. But if she makes them aware of how she operates, I don't see a problem.
  • kristen6350
    kristen6350 Posts: 1,094 Member
    I've been on the Pill (Yaz) for about 20 years. I have no issue with losing weight and BMR - TDEE calculators are spot on.
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    I remember I was newly dating a guy who told me he had a vasectomy. I was like "WHOO HOO! I can have all kinds of sex and not have to worry about getting pregnant!" Too bad I was already pregnant and didn't know it...
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Bonny132 wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Forcing them to buy and use condoms is wrong on so many levels... ? I don't see a problem.

    Birth control is a two way thing, you have BOTH got responsibilities, and personally if a guy had a vasectomy and wanted to have unprotected sex with me, it be a no way Jose till he had his pecker checked out and tested at the doctors. I take my sexual health very seriously, and before going serious with my current partner, we discussed birth control, and before deciding I was going on the pill, we Both got tested.

    Unfortunately it doesn't appear that most people think this way - it being both the man and woman's responsibility. I hear quite often more than anything, that it's the woman's responsibility alone. Which sucks. We're expected to pump our bodies with hormones that affect many aspects of our mental and physical state. Or, shove scary foreign objects in them.
    So, I don't really see a problem with her situation in which she makes it the man's responsibility. Would I do it that way? Nah, I'd have us both but the condoms. But if she makes them aware of how she operates, I don't see a problem.

    First, it's not a bunch of men, lol. Since my ex, there's been one man. I do not sleep with every man I date.

    Second, I don't think most men consider it the woman's responsibility. I hope not, anyway!

    For many years, I took the pills. I no longer take pills that I don't absolutely need. I have my reasons for that and anyone with any sense at all would understand them, certainly anyone I'm about to make that big leap with.

    There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking a man to wear a condom.
  • tara_means_star
    tara_means_star Posts: 957 Member
    When I got put on birth control, the doctor promised that if I was in a caloric deficit, the pill would not make me gain. I stayed on in 3 months, then came off of it. The reason I came off was because I have never in my life craved grease--fatty, greasy, oily foods---so bad. It got to the point that I wanted the greasiest foods I could find all the time. So, yes, I gained weight. The pill was indirect..I could have denied the cravings and not gained...but they were strong and I gave in and gained a significant amount of weight. The cravings didn't subside for a long time after I stopped the pill either.
  • lizwooshy
    lizwooshy Posts: 110 Member
    I've been taking the pill for about 5 years and I've definitely gained weight since then, but who doesn't gain weight after high school? Lol. So it's hard to say if that's the cause.

    I will say that I think my bc effects my moods and definitely makes me bloated. I get irritable very quickly and feel fatigued very often. I hardly remember the person I was before bc so idk if the pill is the cause or not.

    With that being said, the pill has not hindered my ability to lose weight (24 pounds and counting)
  • CoffeeNCardio
    CoffeeNCardio Posts: 1,847 Member
    edited November 2015
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Why? I mean, disclaimer, I'm a woman, but a vasectomy is a very simple, very LOW RISK (3% complications) procedure. Tube tying and female sterilization poses a much greater risk and is far far more invasive. Tit for tat, you go with the thing that's less dangerous. Ideally you do so in the confines of a committed relationship (because neither protects you from STD's, not because I'm against outside of marriage sex), but realistically there's nothing wrong with doing a cost/benefit analysis with this stuff and going with the safer option that meets the same goal.

    That being said, I leave this one to the guys. It's your organ. But it would be equally wrong to demand that a woman undergo invasive surgery for the sake of procreation-free sex too. This isn't complicated, figure out what works between you and the ideally one person you're sleeping with at any given time.

    ETA: 3%. phone tries to do math on it's own
  • lucky_lemon
    lucky_lemon Posts: 2 Member
    I'm on the depo shot, haven't gained a pound on it. It's also easy to lose the weight as long as I stay within my calories. It does however make you want to eat more junk though.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    Kalikel wrote: »
    The fewer pills I take, the happier my body and I will be. No more pills for me!

    I've reached the point in my life where I'm not dating men who may want children. Grandchildren, maybe, but not children. I no longer take responsibility. If they haven't had the big V, they must buy and use the birth control. Luckily, the one guy I was serious about had already had the big V, so it was cool. :)

    I am sorry but forcing a guy to do this just to have intercourse with them, seems wrong to me on so many levels.

    Forcing them to buy and use condoms is wrong on so many levels... ? I don't see a problem.

    No. Forcing a vasectomy. I have no issue with condoms what so ever.