Birth Control

Sweettart
Sweettart Posts: 1,331 Member
edited October 4 in Food and Nutrition
Ladies,

I have been on birth control for about 3 months now but I am finding that I am eating more now and seem to be more depressed and have a much harder time pushing myself to lose weight and workout.

I was wondering if anyone else had anything like this?

Replies

  • mscoco10
    mscoco10 Posts: 527 Member
    I thought it was just me. Birth control pills are the devil well when it comes to weight loss. I tried them a few months ago and noticed weight gain no matter what i ate. Then i stopped. I started taking them about 2 weeks ago and gained like 5lbs in a few days. I've thrown them out and i'm getting the IUD this week.
  • mleoni092708
    mleoni092708 Posts: 629 Member
    I can't really tell-been on it for awhile. But my advice would be call the dr that prescribed it and tell them how you are feeling. Maybe you need a different type of pill. I think there are different pills with different levels of hormones and mybe your body doesn't like the one you're on.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    If it's the pill and you've been on it a full three months, you might want to ask your doctor to put you on a different one.
  • mallorybriann
    mallorybriann Posts: 1,380 Member
    I had to stop BC because it was affecting my moods too much. I was on the lowest dose too.
    Can you try a lower dose that what you're on now?
    I'd speak with your doctor about the depression, it def is a side effect.
  • rudegyal_b
    rudegyal_b Posts: 593 Member
    ask to try a different one, i went thru like 5 brands before i found one i was comfortable with
  • sabrinafaith
    sabrinafaith Posts: 607 Member
    if any medication ever makes you feel depressed, you should definitely speak to your dr. I had major mood swings when i was on BC and my dr told me to take a complete vitamin B supplement, and it really helped.

    You should seriously speak to your dr.
  • andreacord
    andreacord Posts: 928
    Birth control TERRIBLE for weight loss! I talked to my doctor and she said that yes, that indeed was my problem. I was working my butt off, and was lucky to lose 1 lb a week.. and then as soon as I came off it bam I lost 3 and a bit lbs within 2 weeks. I'm on the mirena IUD now, don't know if that will be better or worse for my weight loss.
  • red01angel
    red01angel Posts: 806 Member
    ask to try a different one, i went thru like 5 brands before i found one i was comfortable with

    Same here.
    If one doesn't work, try another. There are lots of different formulations.
  • wildcatlizzie
    wildcatlizzie Posts: 13
    I would definitely talk to your doctor before ditching them completely. I've personally never experienced those side effects with mine, but I think it would be worth it to talk to your doctor about a different dosage or a different form of birth control.
  • DisneySkaGirl
    DisneySkaGirl Posts: 161
    I recently switched prescriptions after telling my doctor during my annual checkup that after being on one version for a year, I was sick of the inability to lose weight and having crying fits and extreme sadness for no reason I could see. It might not even be necessarily the dose, but the actual ingredients. There are many different forms and combinations of ingredients and no one pill works for everyone. Also, are you on a form that changes doses through the month or a constant dose until the end of the month? I was on a prescription that cycled through 3 levels of the active hormone, but now that I am on a constant low dose, I am feeling much better. However, the ability to lose weight hasn't changed much, but I'm okay with having to work a little harder.
  • bs1981
    bs1981 Posts: 36
    Depo shot... haven't had any difference with it.
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    Ladies,

    I have been on birth control for about 3 months now but I am finding that I am eating more now and seem to be more depressed and have a much harder time pushing myself to lose weight and workout.

    I was wondering if anyone else had anything like this?

    Depression is a definite possible side effect - make an appointment to talk to your dr. about your concerns and see if they have other options you can try. Some women need different types or amounts of hormones. Everyone reacts differently to the hormonal changes that birth control induces in your body. There are multiple different formulations you can try, go see your dr. and ask if they feel another type might be better for you.
  • SarahE0417
    SarahE0417 Posts: 35
    Just went to the GYN today for this same issue! I was on the pill for 4 years and never saw weight loss like i want. I came off of it in August and have gained 5 pounds. It depends on the person. It's not the pill that makes you gain wait or not bea ble to lose, its the cravings. I talked to my dr. today about Mirena and was told since I have not had a baby that it would more than likely be really uncomfortable for me. He reccommend that I try a different pill...yaz (well, the generic of it) because it contains a diuretic that doesnt hold on to all of the water weight.
  • kmbrooks15
    kmbrooks15 Posts: 941 Member
    I agree...talk to your doc. I went on them several years ago, not for birth control (I'm infertile), but to regulate my cycle. I've had no issues with mine (Loestrin 24--low-dose estrogen). I did switch and try Seasonique (the 3-month one) and had to stop because it made me sick. I switched back to Loestrin.

    If you're having side effects, ask your doc to let you try a different one. There are tons of them out there, so you may just not have the right one for you. Different formulations and different levels of hormones in them can affect everyone differently.

    Good luck! Hope you can find one that doesn't bother you and leave you depressed. That's the last thing you need while trying to lose weight.

    ETA: Be sure to ask for samples of the ones they're letting you try. Often they can give you samples to try (if they have them available) until you settle on one that works for you.
  • Sweettart
    Sweettart Posts: 1,331 Member
    I am also on a low dose. The main reason my dr put me on it was because I have PCOS and its to regulate my cycle.
  • abigailV91
    abigailV91 Posts: 14 Member
    I have the same problem sometimes. I've been on it for about a year and a half now. But I've also been on either 2 or 3 different pills. They all have different effects on different people. I suggest talking to your doctor and switching pills.
  • kmbrooks15
    kmbrooks15 Posts: 941 Member
    I am also on a low dose. The main reason my dr put me on it was because I have PCOS and its to regulate my cycle.

    I have PCOS as well. I think I just lucked out and ended up with a pill that worked for me the first time. Keep trying some different ones until you find what works. If you just can't find one, you may have to come off it entirely. You can try Metformin (I tried it and lost weight, but it started making me sick and it wasn't worth being nauseous all the time!).

    You can possibly try Evening Primrose Oil, too. It's supposed to help with regulating your cycle. Talk to your doctor first, though, and make sure it won't interact with anything else you are taking (stop the BC pill before you start it).

    Good luck. I know how awful it is having an irregular and painful cycle. NOT fun.
  • rharris86dc
    rharris86dc Posts: 635 Member
    I was on the pill for about a year, and it didn't hinder my weight loss or affect my moods. But before this Rx, I have tried 3 or 4 different brands.

    In September, I switched to the shot, and THAT has made weight loss super difficult. I've been having serious junk cravings, lack of motivation issues, and mood swings. Not to mention that I haven't had a cycle, but have been spotting constantly for a month. I can't wait for this to wear off so I can go back to my pills!

    With that said, once you find something that works for you, everything will be fine! Definitely make an appointment to talk to your doctor about the side affects and see if s/he can come up with a better pill (or other type of contraceptive) for you!
  • swisspea
    swisspea Posts: 327 Member
    I would suggest you talk to your doctor. I've been on the pill for seven years, 3 different ones in that time. It took 2 years with 2 different pills that didn't mesh right with my body chemistry to find the one that does. Now that I have the right one, I never want to let it go! Everyone's body is different, so it's hard to get advice from someone else on "which" one to take, and I'd take any of that advice with a grain of salt. Depo does work for some women, but there are studies that prove that women tend to spot much more on Depo than the pill- but again, every woman's body is different. NOT having a baby is a good way to not put on weight :)
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Birth control TERRIBLE for weight loss! I talked to my doctor and she said that yes, that indeed was my problem. I was working my butt off, and was lucky to lose 1 lb a week.. and then as soon as I came off it bam I lost 3 and a bit lbs within 2 weeks. I'm on the mirena IUD now, don't know if that will be better or worse for my weight loss.

    I easily lost 2 pounds a week while on the pill. On Mirena, I've gained and cannot lose it.

    It affects everyone differently.
  • TNoire
    TNoire Posts: 642 Member
    I went off the pill almost a year ago, I went on it to lose the weight before having a baby, I was able to lose 156lbs no problem with the one I was on it was a low dose hormone look into it if you want its called :

    sprintec

    Docs I know like it, if you have any symptoms like your having with the pill its time to switch ask your doc, my docs say stay away from anything with TRI in the name
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    Definitley talk to your doctor about your symptoms and ask about alternatives. I've never found a hormonal birth control option that suited me... I have always felt like I'm living in a fog and as soon as I've stopped I feel like I've woken up. This was on several different oral contraceptives and also with the Implanon implant.
    I think you just have to try them out and see what works for you.
  • jess_blonde
    jess_blonde Posts: 229 Member
    i'm getting the IUD this week.

    Best decision I ever made! I gained weight, was unhappy and had zero sex drive on a low dose pill and on the NuvaRing. I also got migraines during my withdrawal week. I had a copper IUD (Flexi-T 300) installed almost six months ago and I ADORE it (his name is Dexter and I love him...yeah I named it lol).
  • jecka31
    jecka31 Posts: 284
    I had similar issues while on an oral BC. I switched to the Depo-Provera shot. I'm much happier and it hasn't affected my ability to lose weight. The only drawback is that you must keep up with how much calcium you get daily. You have to increase the amount you eat over what is recommended (your OB/GYN will tell you what amount will be appropriate for you) as the shot makes it harder for your body to absorb calcium.
  • calliope_music
    calliope_music Posts: 1,242 Member
    let your doc know...it may not be the right kind for you. i found out that Ortho Tri-Cyclen makes me practically psychotic the hard way, haha.


    also, please keep in mind that it's getting to that point of the year where SAD (seasonal affective disorder) also pops up. not sure if you live in a place with constant sunshine but the cold weather and early darkness is killing me here.
  • g_warne
    g_warne Posts: 28
    You just have to find the right one for your body. I'm on Yasmin as it works well for me. Absolutely no side effects and I've been on it for 8 years. I actually find that if I don't have it (took a break last year to see how I felt as was originally put on it for hormonal balance) and gained weight immediately. Went back on and it dropped right off! So opposite of what some people have. Try several :)
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