Birth Control and women

mexy04

I am just curious how much birth control effects weight loss and gain. Based off the doctor they say there is potential but not enough research proving for sure. If a woman lives healthily she shouldn't have a problem is what I've read. But so many chicks say the depo and IUD's make you pack on weight. I think that some women are sensitive and others just are unhealthy meaning they do pack on the weight. I am promising myself I won't make that excuse for myself like I have in the past.

paruls86

I am just curious how much birth control effects weight loss and gain. Based off the doctor they say there is potential but not enough research proving for sure. If a woman lives healthily she shouldn't have a problem is what I've read. But so many chicks say the depo and IUD's make you pack on weight. I think that some women are sensitive and others just are unhealthy meaning they do pack on the weight. I am promising myself I won't make that excuse for myself like I have in the past.

I am no expert my self but My gynae has refused to prescribe ne any pills coz of my weight... and believe me I have had many gynae

SergeantSunshine_reused

My gyno told me that in some individuals it increases appetite so you eat more and gain. Counting calories you should be fine.

I have been on nuvarring for a year and no issues

mes1119

I gained weight when I went on BC but it may be because I started dating my boyfriend around the same time, went back to school, starting eating out more and stopped working out...

Only thing I've noticed in weight gain and trying to lose weight was in my chest. Which wasn't really a negative side effect for me hahaha

bluegirl10

I gained weight on birth control pills and once I stopped I was able to drop the weight. I then had an iud and while I did gain weight, it wasn't because of the iud... It was my own fault, so I buckled down and lost the weight while still having the iud. I only found it impossible to lose weight while on the pill, but not with an iud.

emmaonamission

It increases your appetite, or at least the pill I was on did. My doctor told me not to change my eating habits even though I might feel a bit hungrier because I was already quite overweight. If you're careful about your eating habits you'll be fine

rml_16

I am just curious how much birth control effects weight loss and gain. Based off the doctor they say there is potential but not enough research proving for sure. If a woman lives healthily she shouldn't have a problem is what I've read. But so many chicks say the depo and IUD's make you pack on weight. I think that some women are sensitive and others just are unhealthy meaning they do pack on the weight. I am promising myself I won't make that excuse for myself like I have in the past.

Totally depends on the woman and the BC.

I never had any issues with weight on the pill. I did gain, but not because of the BC. And I had no problem losing. I have Mirena now and literally the month after I got it, I started having problems and almost three years later, I'm still having problems.

And it's not because of eating more or exercising less.

LilRedRooster

Hormonal birth control effects are COMPLETELY individual in their effects. I was on a low-dose pill for nearly 4 years, didn't have any issue losing weight, didn't gain anything, didn't have crazy mood swings.. Nothing. But my sister gained weight, had crazy spotting, and was a grumpy mess all the time.

It really is completely dependent on your individual body makeup and responses, but being active, eating healthy, and just generally maintaining a healthy lifestyle will definitely go a long way with preventing negative responses.

Slice1

IUDs are known to pack on weight. Most people believe that only the Mirena (or other hormone-releasing IUDs) effect your weight, but I have had 2 copper IUDs and had issues with both.

Coppe IUDs can lead to too much copper in your body and you end up suffering from copper toxicity. I recently had mine removed because of this. The copper messes with your hormones, big time. Not to mention every other part of your body: neurological, physical, hormonal, you name it.

I was having many health issues and finally discovered my IUD was the cause.

So any birth control that effects hormones (which they all do) can cause weight issues. Some women are very lucky though and have no problem.

rcarri

I've had an IUD for about a year and a half. I will say that in that time is when I have gained the weight that I'm trying to get rid of now, but I really don't blame the increase on the IUD. I blame it on me being lazy and eating too much and drinking too much beer.

lizard053

Yup, BC definitely causes a gain! If you're not careful that is! It also can make it more difficult to lose weight, depending on the particular formulation you use. In my opinion, it's a choice. I'm losing weight even on an implant version of BC! Slow, but as long as it comes off, I'm happy!

kayleesays

Birth control has always given me a plethora of terrible side effects, but luckily, weight retention/gain isn't one of them. I've been on the pill for about three and a half years, and right now I'm on Microgestin, which is a low-estrogen mostly-progestine pill. However, I think estrogen pills seem to have a worse rap when it comes to weight gain.

SamanthaTheSpartan

I have to say, any of you using or considering using the pill, shots, an IUD or any other hormonal device, you need to do some serious research about the side effects.

I am NOT some religious nut who thinks birth control is wrong. I use condoms religiously. I am a medical professional who wants you all to know what your doctor probably won't tell you.

Like, did you know your risk for a blood clot is WAY higher on hormone bc, EVEN if you don't smoke! And a common side effect for all hormonal bs'c, and even non-hormone IUD's are tubal pregnancies, infertility and miscarriage.

Why do doctors usually leave these types of facts out of the discussion? Because the pharmaceutical companies don't give them kick-backs on condoms.

My best advice as a woman and a friend is, stick to condoms!!!!

MehiraDeOro

I asked my doctor when I first went on the pill when I was 19 if it would make me gain weight, she said that it was kind of a myth. She said some women gained weight because that pill or other birth control was not right for their bodies.

I did gain a little weight--but that was my own fault. I didn't exercise nor did eat healthy at the time. I've been on 3 different brands in the last 6 years and I don't believe any of them made me gain weight, I believe my bad health choices had a lot to do with it.

Also I have PCOS and this is the easiest way for me to manage my symptoms.

Hernandeak11

I have had zero problem losing weight while on the pill, and the pill is definitely not the reason i gained weight.

I'm sure it can vary by individual, but as long as you're committed to a healthy lifestyle, losing/maintaining your weight shouldn't be an issue for most.

LisamarieBond14

My nurse tells me that it doesn't have much of an effect on weight. I'm on the mini pill (Progesterone-only pill) Cerazette.
When I came off it, I lost around 3 stone. Granted, a lot of it may have been from stress or whatever, as I had just broken up with my fiance and moved back into my parents' home. But i was eating nothing but crap and as soon as I came off the Pill, the weight dropped off. When I went back on it, the weight came right back on, gradually. It might be a coincidence, I dunno!

SamanthaTheSpartan

Also, the concept of a lo-estrogen pill is like a light cigarette. It's not really any less-harmful. My mother suffered multiple blood clots around last Christmas after being placed on a low-estrogen pill. Don't be fooled, ladies.

phillieschic

I have the Mirena (IUD)...inserted since last July 2011. And, while I haven't gained weight because of it, it also hasn't controlled the irregular bleeding that I deal with basically every two weeks!

Did I mention that I'm dealing with it now? Today? Ugh...I'm pissed off just thinking about it. :explode:

Libby81

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Totally depends on the woman and the BC.

I never had any issues with weight on the pill. I did gain, but not because of the BC. And I had no problem losing.
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I'm the same. I have been using microgynon for over 10 years and I have had no problems. I have gained and lost my weight whilst using BC but I again wouldn't put it as being a contributing factor to either

AnnaMaus

Not all birth control is the same and it's not simply a matter of individual sensitivity. DepoProvera gives a patient a high dose of hormones all at once, it does tend to cause weight gain, as does Norplant.

Some pills are high-dose, others aren't (like Loestrin/Microgestin, which are associated with low rates of side effects), still others are high-dose of certain hormone in some phases and lower in others, while increasing the dose of other hormones (OrthoTricyclen).

Some IUDs are drug-eluting, and others aren't.

Consider also this is not by any means exhaustive of the hormone-based birth control options, and doesn't take into account individual sensitivities.

lizard053

I have to say, any of you using or considering using the pill, shots, an IUD or any other hormonal device, you need to do some serious research about the side effects.

I am NOT some religious nut who thinks birth control is wrong. I use condoms religiously. I am a medical professional who wants you all to know what your doctor probably won't tell you.

Like, did you know your risk for a blood clot is WAY higher on hormone bc, EVEN if you don't smoke! And a common side effect for all hormonal bs'c, and even non-hormone IUD's are tubal pregnancies, infertility and miscarriage.

Why do doctors usually leave these types of facts out of the discussion? Because the pharmaceutical companies don't give them kick-backs on condoms.

My best advice as a woman and a friend is, stick to condoms!!!!

A very good friend of mine had a serious stroke a little over a year ago taking Yaz. If you have issues with clotting in your family, seriously avoid using BC! It can be very dangerous for those with genetic predisposition for stroke.

sarah44254

nuvaring = absolutely positively extremely fantastic and amazing

since not being able to afford nuva I have switched to Lutera and also Microgestin FE1/20. I maintained after starting Lutera, but not on purpose. Either because I got sloppy with diet + exercise or because the new hormones had some sort of effect on me. I don't know.

k8blujay2

The only type of birth control that I gain weight on is the progesterone only type (like Depo and the mini-pill)... I realized that it wasn't just the depo when after having my daughter I was gaining weight, even though I didn't eat any more than I typically did AND was breastfeeding.. I had only gained 11-12 pounds the entire pregnancy as well (I was already overweight, so that wasn't a big deal)... I should have seen some kind of weight decrease with the birthing process, breastfeeding, and not gaining any weight until the last trimester and then only gaining a few pounds total, but I didn't. But that's just how my body reacts to progesterone only (besides the never ending light periods).

I am on the patch and while it allows me to lose weight slowly, it pretty much stagnates any weight gained or lost... it's almost like it's bouyant.

cmduncan

My gyno told me that in some individuals it increases appetite so you eat more and gain. Counting calories you should be fine.

This exactly - I take a generic of Ortho-Tri Cyclen and have been able to lose consistently.

kiminikimkim

I am taking Alesse and it has no affect what so ever on weight gain.

SamanthaTheSpartan

I have to say, any of you using or considering using the pill, shots, an IUD or any other hormonal device, you need to do some serious research about the side effects.

I am NOT some religious nut who thinks birth control is wrong. I use condoms religiously. I am a medical professional who wants you all to know what your doctor probably won't tell you.

Like, did you know your risk for a blood clot is WAY higher on hormone bc, EVEN if you don't smoke! And a common side effect for all hormonal bs'c, and even non-hormone IUD's are tubal pregnancies, infertility and miscarriage.

Why do doctors usually leave these types of facts out of the discussion? Because the pharmaceutical companies don't give them kick-backs on condoms.

My best advice as a woman and a friend is, stick to condoms!!!!

A very good friend of mine had a serious stroke a little over a year ago taking Yaz. If you have issues with clotting in your family, seriously avoid using BC! It can be very dangerous for those with genetic predisposition for stroke.

I have always known I did not want to use birth control. I know too much about how it works and affects the body. Now that my mother has had the issues, my younger sister has also decided to stay away from bc.

t3hsandy

Depo is the reason I'm trying to lose weight; the reason I'm here. I had the same lifestyle since middle school and, despite the massive cravings in the first month (I was hungry 24/7), I didn't eat more than normal (maybe a small meal twice a day). I still gained 20-ish pounds in one week 5 months after my initial shot (2 months after my second one). I got off it immediately and was on (sorry for tmi) my period for 2 months straight, then 3 periods a month, 2 a month and then finally a normal cycle. Plus I couldn't sit in one position for more than 30 minutes since the pain was enormous. It stopped once I got off depo and when I was able to take calcium supplements.

Birth control will always have effects since you're messing with a natural process but it takes work to keep it from having an effect. So you really have to be on your A game.

lizard053

nuvaring = absolutely positively extremely fantastic and amazing

since not being able to afford nuva I have switched to Lutera and also Microgestin FE1/20. I maintained after starting Lutera, but not on purpose. Either because I got sloppy with diet + exercise or because the new hormones had some sort of effect on me. I don't know.

I used nuvaring for a number of years. AWESOME! Problem is, I changed up some of my meds and it stopped working for me. I became a hormonal B!@#! I just need a constant supply of steady hormones. Using Implanon now, and I couldn't be happier. Progesterone only. Did gain weight, but I wasn't eating well either.

emmabooters

I've been on BC for over a decade. Probably will be for another decade too. I've never had any issues with gaining or losing due to my BC.

k8blujay2

I have to say, any of you using or considering using the pill, shots, an IUD or any other hormonal device, you need to do some serious research about the side effects.

I am NOT some religious nut who thinks birth control is wrong. I use condoms religiously. I am a medical professional who wants you all to know what your doctor probably won't tell you.

Like, did you know your risk for a blood clot is WAY higher on hormone bc, EVEN if you don't smoke! And a common side effect for all hormonal bs'c, and even non-hormone IUD's are tubal pregnancies, infertility and miscarriage.

Why do doctors usually leave these types of facts out of the discussion? Because the pharmaceutical companies don't give them kick-backs on condoms.

My best advice as a woman and a friend is, stick to condoms!!!!

Actually, the doctor that orginally prescribed birth control for me actually talked to me about it... So not all doctors leave this kind of stuff out... and all drugs have risk factors to them of some kind... the Z-pack does too... Thankfully for me though, the only side effect I have ever had from the patch is loss of hair... and even that's not that bad, just more so than if I weren't on the patch.

SamanthaTheSpartan

I have to say, any of you using or considering using the pill, shots, an IUD or any other hormonal device, you need to do some serious research about the side effects.

I am NOT some religious nut who thinks birth control is wrong. I use condoms religiously. I am a medical professional who wants you all to know what your doctor probably won't tell you.

Like, did you know your risk for a blood clot is WAY higher on hormone bc, EVEN if you don't smoke! And a common side effect for all hormonal bs'c, and even non-hormone IUD's are tubal pregnancies, infertility and miscarriage.

Why do doctors usually leave these types of facts out of the discussion? Because the pharmaceutical companies don't give them kick-backs on condoms.

My best advice as a woman and a friend is, stick to condoms!!!!

Actually, the doctor that orginally prescribed birth control for me actually talked to me about it... So not all doctors leave this kind of stuff out... and all drugs have risk factors to them of some kind... the Z-pack does too... Thankfully for me though, the only side effect I have ever had from the patch is loss of hair... and even that's not that bad, just more so than if I weren't on the patch.

I know that not all doctors leave this out. My OB/GYN being a great example. Then it's up to the woman. For me personally, the risk is too high. And for what, to be able to ditch the condoms? I'm okay with using condoms until I'm done having kids and then looking into surgical procedures.