A Ladyparts Question...

asilmegan34

I hope someone here can relate or provide me some information... I got on the Depo Provera shot in March 2010, and gained 40 pounds in the span of March-September from when I did not get the shot again. I felt so depressed, fatigued, fat... It was horrible. I got off the shot and since then I've only had one period which was light. Here's my predicament... If I go to the doctor and get on birth control, I'm worried how that will affect my weight loss efforts. But if I don't go to the doctor, is not having a normal cycle causing a hormonal imbalance, making it harder to lose weight? I would ask my OB but he really is not knowledgeable in nutrition and weight loss so I feel like I might get incorrect information. Thanks

jbrown9332

I think if you go on a low estrogen pill that you shouldnt have any problems with weight gain. I have to be on low estrogen because too much estrogen makes me sick., and I never gained weight on that pill. I switched to a different pill bc of insurance and it had more estrogen and I gained 10 lbs. I would ask your doctor about it though.

msmandyjo

I had gotten the shot 3 times, and after i decided to go off of it, it took me almost a year to get a normal cycle back.

catcrazy

There are lots of different things you could try...it might be an idea to visit a well womens clinic for advice, they are knowledgeable on all the brands and the side effects etc

LorinaLynn

I used to go to my general practitioner for my girlieparts needs, but ended up going back to Planned Parenthood because they were so much more knowledgeable about BC and it's side effects.

allready_gone

Have you considered the Nuva Ring? I have had a tremendous experience with it after having unbelievable issues with every other birth control I tried. I've been on it for a few years now and it's also controlling my endometriosis better than any of the others AND I've not gained any weight on it. Haven't lost any either but hey..... ;0) A little more expensive but has been well worth it for me. Their website has $15 coupons too.

homograph

If you've been off Depo Provera for that long it won't be having much effect on your current cycles, but your OB should be able to direct you to options with fewer side effects altogether, be they weight loss related or not. You might consider an IUD, which has little (Mirena) to no (copper IUD) hormonal component. If you do go hormonal, there's always the progesterone only pill, which has fewer side effects for many women.

wlddove

Some of the "newer" birth control actually help you lose weight. I know Yaz and Yasmin do....

abbie017

It really affects every woman differently, and every pill will affect you differently. Maybe asking a general practitioner will be helpful. If your OB/GYN isn't helpful with this kind of info, maybe he could consult with your primary care doctor. Asking a web forum for medical advice will not get you any meaningful information, because the majority of us are not MDs...

Funnybunnyboo

i always had trouble with my periods, the pain was just extraordinary...so now i have a mirena coil, had it for about 6 yrs, no period, no pain, no unwanted pregnancies.....and reversible...might be worth visiting a womens clinic and asking about it??

JenInAustin

I would find an obgyn that is more knowledgeable. My opinion: they're out there and you deserve one that can take your whole health into consideration and not jeopardize your dedication to weight loss. Good luck!

JulieF11

Are you done having kids? If so, I just recently had what they call an "endometrial ablation". It's truly a blessing for those who are done having kids. It was a 90 second procedure done in office, and I'll never have to deal with yucky cycles again. Now, once a month I can use a simple liner and no cramping at all. Sooo nice!

JenInAustin

Yes, I agree; ask about the Yaz, Beyaz, Yazmin bc pills. I've really liked it (though Yaz was a downer so I moved to Beyaz) for many reasons including evening out hormones that were stimulating hunger.

ceejay000

If you're actively following a diet and exercise plan the pill shouldn't have an effect on your weight. Depo, on the other hand, is notorious for weight gain. Like someone else said, ask your doctor if you can take a low-dose pill, and you should be fine as long as you stick to the plan on here.

Yemaya1129

I gained less weight on a low estrogen pill, but I'm someone who gains *very* easily, so YMMV. At this point, I refuse to mess with hormonal birth control, but I'm done having children and have had a tubal so I don't need it for that reason. My cycles are regular, but I have really awful god-awful cramping and fatigue that time of the month. It makes it really hard to work out for about 10 days out of the month. It's kind of a balance between deciding if the pill makes your body gain weight (circumventing your efforts) or if potentially not being able to work out intensely for X days a month is an even bigger weight-loss sabotage.

aneisiena

I'm not looking to start any debates, but have you considered Natural Family Planning? The good thing about it would be you're not putting any new things into your body--less likely to have side effects (often relating to weight or appetite). On the other hand (don't want to say "bad"), would be that you would need to be a little more open to a baby since it's natural and there's nothing literally preventing birth. I've read up some things about its success--of course, this would need to be through your doctor for optimum efficiency.

asilmegan34

Yeah, I've yet to have any kids but I don't plan on having any for a couple of years anyway. I think I'm going to look into the low estrogen option. At least, if I try it and and I gain weight I can try something else. Thank you!

tauny78

I used to take Yaz, and I loved it. In the first month of adjustment to it, I actually lost weight. It also helped with my severe periods and my mood swings. I know it has a lot of bad press, but I would still be on it if my health insurance covered it better. After the first month, the weight loss stopped, but I never gained any either. I agree with many of the other comments, about talking to a more knowledgeable ob/gyn. Good luck!

asilmegan34

Yeah I wouldn't be opposed, however I don't even know if I'm ovulating and since nothing is regular I dont know how accurate natural planning would be.

asilmegan34

What is the debate on Yaz?

CPTbluefeather

Same thing happened to me, I started taking Black Cohosh and in 3 weeks I was back to normal,

kellyscomeback

Weight gain is a large side effect of 'the shot". All birth control pills forms are different and it could take time to find the one that works for you. It's mainly a few months of trial and error to find one you like.

My story:

I got the shot once, packed on 20 lbs and said eff that. I then did 'the patch' and had 2 miscarriages. My nurse practitioner forgot to tell me that the weight cut off was 190 lbs, I was 192. I tried the bcp that gives you 4 periods a year and my insurance wouldn't cover it because it only covers 30 days worth of pills a month. I got 2 free months from my OBGYNs office and then stopped due to the insurance not covering it. I had 3 months worth of horrible hormone fluctuations after stopping that birth control.

We then decided to start trying for a kid and it took 3 years and 3 more miscarriages before I had a live birth. I don't know if my infertility came from birth control or what (all tests for IF were clear/normal) but since then I have sworn off birth control and do natural family panning, no sex during fertile days and no wacky side effects from the hormone pills.

Rikki444

Your OB may not be an expert on weight loss and nutrition but he will be very aware of the side effects of birth control (BC). He should be able to answer your question and address your concern regarding hormonal issues, which is his specialty. Don't count him out. Unless he is completely uncooperative and rude, maybe it's time to find a new doctor?

Also, remember to take your vitamin B complex. Sometimes our OB's forget to mention that especially while on BC, you need to take your B vitamins. It is vital for your mood, energy.

allready_gone

I might be one in a million but I had a terrible time with Yasmin. I call the time that I was on it my "comatose" state because all I could do was sleep. It was worse than when I was pregnant and it took us 3 or 4 months to figure out that it was the pill that was the problem. Especially the first weekend full weekend on a new pill pack, I would lose entire weekends to sleeping. It didn't control any of my endometriosis issues and gave me new side effects to deal with too. I probably gained weight on that one because of the lethargy and fatigue. It was awful!! As soon as I changed I was back to normal within a week or so confirming that it was the pill that was the problem.

stephnsuarez

I'm on Ortho Tricyclen Lo and I had zero nausea, weight gain or weight loss, change in pimples, or anything. I've been on it for 1 year and literally it's like popping a multivitamin! It didn't affect me in any way! I guess I'm one in a million? But I really do advocate the low estrogen pills in regards to weight gain...I have other friends on low doses like me and they didn't gain, but one did experience bigger boobs!

ceejay000

I'm on Ortho Tricyclen Lo and I had zero nausea, weight gain or weight loss, change in pimples, or anything. I've been on it for 1 year and literally it's like popping a multivitamin! It didn't affect me in any way! I guess I'm one in a million? But I really do advocate the low estrogen pills in regards to weight gain...I have other friends on low doses like me and they didn't gain, but one did experience bigger boobs!

I LOVED Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo when I took it. It didn't affect my mood, and I didn't notice any weight gain. I had to switch to another pill because of cost, and sometimes I feel like I'm a crazy person with the mood swings... I know everyone is different, but I totally agree with you on this one!!

asilmegan34

Thats great! I am going to talk to my OB about the ortho tricyclen lo.

beccyleigh

you must all be American, if the cost & insurance affects what you can put in your body!!!

I had the dep years ago, gained a shed load of weight & it gave me such a bad hormone imbalance it took me 3 year to conceive. I now have a coil, best thing ever, mine is without hormone so I do still have periods but they are regular & fairly light (one very heavy day mid cycle) & it means no popping pills every day. If I ever decide to have another kid I can have it removed & technically fall pregnant the next day.