Can birth control KEEP you from LOSING weight?

MelissaL582

I'm on 7/7/7 (been on this for almost 4 years now) and it hasn't made me gain weight- it's not saying "no" that's making me gain. My sister was on another form of BCP and she gained..she got off of it and still has her ups and downs.

FeebRyan

Absolutely, I have heard countless stories of women piling on the pounds after having certain birth control (gerneally the DEPO and the Implant) I have had the Depo and I haven't noticed it make me put on weight but i have certainly noticed it turning me into an anxious person which has been horrid. I will be swapping for a hormone free coil asap

Be interesting to see if my weight loss speeds up when i am off the damn thing.

KANGOOJUMPS

yes, the doc told me to get off it, best thing i could have done.

SweetestLibby

Depends on the person. I'm on the pop/mini pill (orthomicronor) because I'm highly sensitive to estrogen (like migraine and seizure trigger sensitive!). I gained 2 to 3 lbs of water weight/bloat for the first couple of months and then things leveled. I have not gained weight or noticed any slowed weightloss since I've been on it....there have been changes in appetite for me (but that's controllable!)

jcjsjones

I can only speak from my experience, but I started taking Orthocylene for hormonal issues / PCOS about 6 months ago. Since I started, I have been in a plateau. I am not sure if it is the medicine, or my body telling me I wasn't eating enough. I was on the 1200 calorie (did eat back my exercise calories) diet before that point. I have changed my calories to reflect the TDEE-20% and still nothing.

I say this, but I am not coming off the pill right now. My doctor told me I was at a much higher risk for ovarian and cervical cancer if I kept refusing to take it. I figure I can be 25# heavier than I want if it keeps me from getting terminal cancer.

sPaRkLiNgLYFE

i know people who gained weight while on birth control pills

LibertyBelle89

ive been on the same BCP since i was 16 (8 years last month) & its never been an issue for me

aussie_nic_getting_fit

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LizzieLulu

I have been reading online that excess Estrogen can stop you from losing weight, especially stubborn fat that has been there a long time. I am contemplating trying a progesterone only pill or the implant in your arm to see if that helps me. I am on Marvelon and I am constantly bloated. I have an extremely healthy diet but can't get rid of the fat I want and I find it hard to build muscle.
As for you losing only 5lbs that is ok. Stop weighing yourself however, and measure your body parts. It is the inches you are losing that is going to show you how well you are doing. You are increasing your muscle and this weighs a lot more than fat. Ignore the scales, when you look in the mirror and are happy with your body, that's the weight you should be
Good Luck and keep going!

Ps... I swear by the Paleo Diet. It is a lifestyle change as opposed to a quick diet or calorie counted diet. You eat everything fresh and un processed like a caveman would. It has given me so much energy, glowing skin, helped cellulite and it's the healthiest option out there! To stick with the diet, after my workouts I use Hemp protein powder, which is found in a plant so it is still unprocessed organic food!

bordencp

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/nyc/8-4-10-33354.htm



Planned Parenthood of New York City in the News
Article, "Will the Pill Make Me Fat?" by Erica Sackin, Media Content and Outreach Manager, Planned Parenthood of New York City, published in RH Reality Check (8/4/10)

The Birth Control Pill: it’s one of the most widely used forms of contraception, so is there any wonder that it carries so many misconceptions?

We here at Planned Parenthood of New York City field all kinds of questions about birth control pills – will they make me fat, will they make me unable to have kids, do I need to take a break after eight straight years of hormones? So we decided it was time to break it down for you, and give you the straight facts about what is and isn’t true and just where all those rumors come from.

Keep in mind that we’re not giving anyone medical advice, and that making good decisions about sexual health and birth control is vastly different for each person. That means that no matter how much what we explain rings true, you should always discuss these topics with your health care provider to figure out what works best for your health, body, and lifestyle.

Before we get started, let’s go over some birth control basics:

So what is the Pill anyway? The birth control pill is an oral hormonal contraceptive that’s taken daily. While there are many different brand name and generic versions of the Pill, they all basically work the same way. Made up of estrogen, progesterone, or a mix of both, these hormones suppress ovulation, ensuring that a woman’s ovaries don’t release eggs. And they thicken a woman’s cervical mucus, thereby blocking sperm from getting past the cervix.
Even though pills all work the same way, that doesn’t mean they’re all the same. They have different mixes and levels of hormones. Some may even include extras, like iron supplements. Because of this, they all affect us differently – meaning that the side effects you get with one pill may disappear once you change brands. Often finding the right birth control is a process – trying many different brands until you find one that mixes well with your body’s chemistry.

The Myth: The Pill Will Make Me Fat. Heard about the “Freshmen 15” – the extra pounds you gain in your first year of college? Well word on the street is that it’s nothing compared to the “Progesterone 15” – the weight you gain when you start on the birth control pill. We at Planned Parenthood of New York City often have patients come into our centers complaining about weight gain, bloating, or extra poundage once they start taking the Pill.

Let’s debunk this one right now. The birth control pill cannot make you gain weight. It will not make you fat, it will not add on pounds, it will not make you heavier.

So what gives?

Well, a few things may be going on. First of all, while the Pill won’t make you gain weight, what the Pill can make you do is retain water – creating the appearance of weight gain. This isn’t a permanent change, and will usually go away once your body has adjusted to the new hormones, after about a month or two.

Second of all, if your birth control pill contains progesterone (most do), that might be to blame. See, while progesterone doesn’t make you gain weight, it can, for some people, cause an increase in appetite. Increased appetites can lead to eating more, which, yes, will lead to weight gain.

Our medical staff has a favorite saying about this: “The Pill doesn’t make you gain weight, calories do.”

Keep in mind, however, that this increase in appetite is not exponential. Your appetite will increase slightly and then level out, meaning that once your body adjusts you shouldn’t continue to gain weight.

So what can you do if this is happening to you?

Always discuss any concerns you have about your birth control method with your health care provider. But, as mentioned above, most of these effects will disappear over time, as your body adjusts to the new hormone levels. Wait a few months and see what happens. And if you’re still unhappy with the results, talk to your provider about finding a method that works better for you.

vienna_h

I don't think there is any evidence that the pill itself can make you gain or not be able to lose weight, but that doesn't mean the pill and weight gain aren't linked. They can be linked because the pill changes your appetite, and that in turn influences your weight. Obviously, the pharmaceutical companies don't want weight gain to be a side effect of the pill because women would stop buying it.

But many women report gaining weight while on the pill. Is it because of the hormones, because of increased appetite, just a coincidence, etc? Who knows. And it seems everyone reacts differently to different pills. One personmight get depression on one pill while someone feels normal, one pill may cause acne in one person and reduce it in another... it's trial and error unfortunately.

I started taking Loestrin after my surgery last year and gained 15 lbs. Was it the Loestrin? Maybe. But my cortisol levels spiked up for months, so that is likely the culprit. Now my cortisol is coming back down to normal, but I'm on both Loestrin and Minera (I'll eventually stop taking the Loestrin) and despite my best efforts I've yet to lose the weight I gained. So maybe it is the birth control. But Loestrin hasn't affected my appetite at all. Then again, I don't take "off days" I take it continuously and don't get my period. And I've taken other BC pills in the past (Alesse, Yazmine, Diane-35, Nuvaring) as well as a copper IUD. None of those affected my weight, They affected my mood and boobs, but not my weight or appetite.

jen_zz

Well I gained 20 lbs after being on the pills for a year. But I realized it's not the pill itself putting the weight on me, but my caloric intake has increased dramatically due to the increase in appetite.

sc9576

I read the leaflet on side effects that I was given with my depo injection and it says that studies have proven it can cause weight gain but I think it just means I need to do more exercise to fight it

just_Jennie1

It's possible.

It screws up your hormones horrifically so gaining weight and/or becoming stagnant with your weight doesn't surprise me.

spfldpam

I asked my ob/gyn about this since I'm on the depo shot and had read & heard weight gain is an issue with it. The shot itself won't make you gain weight but its what you eat that will. So if you watch what you eat and honestly log daily it won't be an issue.

MelRC117

I was on depo for 9 months and lost about 30 pounds... I was also on the pill before having my son and I lost about 45 pounds on it...
I was consciously dieting both those times so I'm not sure if having increased appetite was me eating less than maintainence or caused by the hormones.

jennacorey1296

I have been on the depo shot for almost a year and a half and have gained between 20 and 30 pounds

Meerataila

I gained weight on BC and lost boyfriends (because it made me crazy). That said, unless you are %100 sure you don't want kids ever and can find a doctor that will tie or cut your tubes, it's the only game in town.

Sorry bout that.

I got fixed as quick as I could get insurance to cover it and lied to the doctor who performed the surgery about my engagement status (I wasn't!).

brevislux

5 pound in 5 weeks is great! It's a definitely perfect result, and seeing as you aren't big and you're only trying to lose 15 pounds, you can't expect for more. You don't put on 15 lbs in 5 weeks, you can't expect to lose them in 5 weeks.

Anyhow, the pill doesn't actively make anyone fat or anything of the sort. It might, however, give you cravings, which make you eat, which makes you gain weight.

AmyWininger

I've been on Mononessa since March and it made me really bloated. It increased my appetite and of course I gained, and started college, so more gaining. I do believe it causes difficulty in me to actually lose the weight though. I'm strictly watching my food intake now and tracking my macros, and no weight loss. Mononessa has greatly increased my anxiety as well, to the point where I get the strangest anxiety attacks and can't sleep at night. I scheduled an appointment with a doctor to switch me to something else, only problem is I have no idea what to switch over to. I was thinking a lower estrogen pill, or an IUD.

Ajaxlost

In my experience, birth control affects different people in different ways. My identical twin sister and I went on the same type of birth control. Her body handled it well (only small amount of bloat) while I had an absolutely horrible experience. Lost my hair, gained so much belly bloat that I looked pregnant, and more.

Ajaxlost

Irish_eyes75 wrote: »

I had the Mirena IUD a few years back and it made me incredibly bloated. So bloated it looked like I swallowed a basketball whole. I was taking 3 spin classes a week, kickboxing once a week and walking every day. I was also logging my food in the daily plate. So what was being put in my mouth was definitely not the cause! My doctor looked me in the face and said it couldn't possibly be from the Mirena without even taking the time to talk to me and really listen. Take my advice and research the birth control you're on. I found a forum of women who weren't crazy, weren't all fat a$$es and had the same exact experience I had. I was so upset I almost tore the IUD out myself. I printed out pages and pages of other women's experiences and brought it to my doctor then asked her for my records, and never saw her again. I was back to normal a few days after the IUD was taken out.

So all the research, studies and papers written are all well and good but real women with real experiences are just as relevant.
If you've ruled out everything else, you're honest with yourself about what you're eating and how much you're exercising, then re-evaluating your bc is definitely something you should do.

I had the same experience with the Mirena but also had severe hair loss and mood swings. The nurses and Doc just looked at me like I was crazy but took it out anyways. I felt almost immediate relief. My sister had zero issues from it so she didn't even believe me.

bethouiseevans

Oh jesus I am getting a Mirena fitted tomorrow because I react badly to pills 0_o now I am worried.

mallory_2014

Birth control does not make you gain fat. Until your body gets used to it you can hold onto a bit of extra water weight. Far too often people use birth control as an excuse about why they are gaining or why they aren't losing. A pill cannot make you gain fat. Due to the hormones in the pill it can make you feel hungrier or make you feel more tired leading to less moving and possibly more eating. The pill itself does not make you gain.

Do not compare your losses to anyone else. You won't lose the same as someone else. I can guarantee you and your friend are not the exact same weight, same muscle mass, exact same eating, and exact same daily activity. You are getting some good losses.

UnicornAmanda

Weight gain is a side effect for many of the pills. Talk to your dr.