Weight gain with contraceptive pill

Poods71

Has anyone had any experience of weight gain on the pill? I was only on it briefly about 20 years ago but found it gave me tummy pains so stopped. I did put some weight on but that could just have been down to eating more not really sure.

I was thinking of going back on it, even just briefly, as TOM is due when I go on holiday and I don't wan't my holiday ruined by feeling crappy.

Probably won't be on it long if it still has the same effect it had before so may not have any effects but just wanted to see if anyone could advise if they experience this and how quickly it happend?

siggakolla

i didnt gain weight going on the pill, but i did when i tried the contraceptive shot.. and the worst part about that was that i couldnt exaclty stop taking it :P

alyssa92982

I haven't experience that at all

Frankii_x

I used to use it as an excuse for my weight gain - but actually when I spoke to my GP and thought about it - it didn't make me gain weight as such, but it did increase my appetite and because I'd always been used to eating when I was hungry an it not being an issue I started to pile on the weight! So keep an eye out for that I've now got the mirena coil and found the same problem with that for a month but I stuck to my guns and reminded myself that I wasn't hungry it was the coil and it's been absolutely fine ever since xxx

Poods71

That could maybe have been my problem the last time, I just felt hungrier so ate more.

Poods71

i didnt gain weight going on the pill, but i did when i tried the contraceptive shot.. and the worst part about that was that i couldnt exaclty stop taking it :P

Ye, that's why I never fancied the shot (or jag as we call it lol) as you can't stop if you decide you don't like it. Oh and I'm not keen on needles lol

castadiva

I was losing steadily until I started taking the pill (Dianette), then hit a plateau of epic proportions. I was maintaining, more or less, but nothing I tried could get any weight to shift. My sister, a doctor, suggested that it may be that the pill is preventing weight loss, as this (or weight gain) can be a side effect of that particular type of medication... I'm contemplating stopping for a few months to see whether I can get things moving again.

Lyadeia

I did not gain weight from the pill, but it made it really hard to lose weight. I was taking Yaz for about 3 years and my weight was fairly steady the whole time no matter what I ate or how I worked out. But, no, I did not gain anything either. It just messed with my hormones just enough to prevent me from losing anything. I started losing again when I went off the pill back in 2011.

Xianpu27

No weight gain on the pill for me! I lost the majority of my weight while taking Yazmin with no problems at all, but I've had to stop taking it due to other reasons.

ReinasWrath

I gained a TON when I was on Loestrin but I was also going bonkers with food, so I can't really blame the pill. It also made me into a crazy insane lunatic mad woman but I guess I can't really blame the pill on that either :laugh:

Lyadeia

I gained a TON when I was on Loestrin but I was also going bonkers with food, so I can't really blame the pill. It also made me into a crazy insane lunatic mad woman but I guess I can't really blame the pill on that either :laugh:

People thought that I was bipolar when I was on Yaz.

Hormonal treatments affect people in strange ways...and it seems that they affect everyone differently as even people on this thread have different experiences with the same pills!

pixtotts

Worth remembering there are loads of different types of contraceptive pills.....

I was on the progestogen only pill (cerazette) , which they claim doesnt cause weight gain, but can cause the body to retain water... I did a bit of a test with it when I went back on it... no change in eating or exercise ( I literally logged everything, for a month either side)... but my weight loss completely halved...
x

Poods71

Hmmmm, I guess everyone reacts differently. I just really want to get them to stop my period for my holidays but did think if I was ok I might consider carrying on with them to regulate my period as it seems to be going a bit haywire just now, possibly perimenopausal. But if the tummy pains started again or I put on weight I would just stop them.

Thanks for all the advice

Pearsquared

If anything, the pill helped me lose weight. I'm on the generic version of Yazmin (Zarah), but I started taking the pill for regulatory reasons rather than contraceptive. Since my hormones aren't going haywire anymore, it's easier to stay on track with weight loss.

MSeel1984

I had this problem for sure...I also noticed that my workouts didn't seem to do much except help me barely maintain.

I also had horrific periods (heavy, cramps, EXTREME moodiness).

I switched to the Mirena IUD per my OB/GYN's advice...my periods are almost non-existent, no cramps and the moodiness is far less.

I also notice that while I may not be losing tons of weight, I'm visually seeing a big difference. My thighs are much slimmer and I'm fitting in my clothes better...It may totally be in my head, but at least I'm not having the same problems I did on the pill. Bloating used to also be a big problem and that can change how you feel about yourself. You may not be gaining weight but you have a hard time buttoning your pants (because of bloating)...so that could be part of it.

Some people say that they eat more on the pill which causes weight gain...but I also feel like I had a harder time metabolizing what I ate. I definitely see a difference with the IUD. Plus the IUD is as effective has having your tubes tied and you don't have to remember to take anything. Win-win.

*Just re-read the post and saw the note about your holiday coming up*

Let your GYN know that you're going on vacation and don't want to be on your period...I think there is something they can give you to temporarily stop your period...A few of my sisters had to do that for their honeymoons.

The IUD will NOT help stop your period immediately for something like this. If anything it's ten times worse for about a month (for me-for some people it's more)...like non-stop period for a long time...so this will not help in your situation-but if you consider it in the future.

samwise29

When I first started taking contraceptive pill, I started putting weight on (Microgynon). I went back to my doctors & they too commented on my weight and swapped me from Microgynon to Yasmin, I stopped piling on weight.

I swapped from Yasmin to the depo injection a few years back, after I was in Canada & heard on the news about Yasmin Contraceptive having bad effects on people's kidneys. Due to me already having problems in the past with my kidneys, me and my doctor discussed this and I was taken off Yasmin and put on the injection.

I knew all the stories about people on the injection putting weight on, so it made me determined to work my butt off and not let it effect my weight. I have now been on it for 4 years & have actually lost 3 stone

I think everyone is different but if you are unhappy with what you are currently taking, speak to your doctor.

Nutella91

i was taking hormone pills, which is pretty similar to contraceptive pill. I was too skinny in the winter and i lost my period, so i had to take the therapy.
I was at least 6 pounds heavier at the time i was taking it! so i decided to simply quit and 2 weeks later i DROPPED the weight, i swear!
now i have to see if i will get period naturally, in the next couple of days.
QUIT IT.

vmclach

I definatley noticed a 10-15 pound weight gain. I was always around 130-135 at 5'8", so pretty small. When I started, I got up to 152. Once your body gets used to the hormones, it will allow you to go back to your normal weight. After about 6 months, I was back down to about 137 and that is where I have been since then!

lalaninjacakes

I gained weight as soon as I came off of it

waterfaeriegirl

I gained 10 lb the first month I was on the pill. My weight had been steady prior to that. I have been able to lose a little bit but it has been slow going.

Woomytron

Back when I did take the pill I didn't gain weight, I LOST weight. I didn't realize until way after I started taking it that the reason why I felt sick all the time was because of the pill. My body didn't do well on it.

It all really depends on the person. I can't take any BC without feeling like feeling super crappy.

ackeebee

I was on microgynon for just over 7 years and didn't really notice any significant weight gain initially. It was when I turned 30 (5 years after being on this pill) that I noticed I started to gain a little bit of weight so I will not blame the pill for this one. In November last year my doc switched me from microgynon to cerazette and I am convinced I might have gained a little bit because cerazette. It might be down to water retention though. Because of this and other horrendous side effects, I quit taking cerazette last month so am watching to see if I lose the last few pounds quicker. It feels great to be pill free after almost 8 years!

krissynicole787

I gained a TON when I was on Loestrin but I was also going bonkers with food, so I can't really blame the pill. It also made me into a crazy insane lunatic mad woman but I guess I can't really blame the pill on that either :laugh:

People thought that I was bipolar when I was on Yaz.

Hormonal treatments affect people in strange ways...and it seems that they affect everyone differently as even people on this thread have different experiences with the same pills!

OMG YAZ MADE ME GO PSYCHOTIC!! One small thing and I would blow up with such rage!! I got off of it right away lol.

LittleMissDover

I've been on lots of different types of pills and now using the Depo injection and have managed to lose weight while on them. They increase your appetite, they don't stuff the food in your mouth though, that's what causes the weight gain!

moni_tb_192

Five years ago, I started taking BC, and I gained A LOT of weight... of course, I blamed the pill.

Now I'm on the pill again, and I've managed to lose a little over 15lbs, just this year, by watching what I eat and working out several times a week. So I was just making excuses back then. The truth is that I had a terrible diet (fast food many times a week) and didn't exercise.

BC shouldn't be held accountable for my weight gain... I should.

jen_zz

I started taking the pill about a year ago and when I went for checkup a year later I gained 10kg!!

But I can't blame the pills since my food intake increased a lot in the past year. The pill probably contributed to my increase in appetite. But at the end of the day it's coz I ate too much.

purple4sure05

Has anyone had any experience of weight gain on the pill? I was only on it briefly about 20 years ago but found it gave me tummy pains so stopped. I did put some weight on but that could just have been down to eating more not really sure.

I was thinking of going back on it, even just briefly, as TOM is due when I go on holiday and I don't wan't my holiday ruined by feeling crappy.

Probably won't be on it long if it still has the same effect it had before so may not have any effects but just wanted to see if anyone could advise if they experience this and how quickly it happend?

My doctor told me that weight gain from the pill isn't usually related to the pill directly, but is actually because it can increase appetite and make you subconsciously eat more. Just continue to track your calories and for the most part you'll be fine. Though water weight can increase on the pill in some circumstances.

I've been on two different birth controls recently and have had no issues from them with my weight loss. I say go for it

castadiva

My doctor told me that weight gain from the pill isn't usually related to the pill directly, but is actually because it can increase appetite and make you subconsciously eat more. Just continue to track your calories and for the most part you'll be fine. Though water weight can increase on the pill in some circumstances.

Although one side effect can be increased appetite, this is not fully-accurate information. Anything that affects your hormones can aid or prevent changes in body composition, irrespective of calorie consumption. That's why most birth control pills list both weight gain and paradoxically, weight loss, as potential side effects - it depends on how your body reacts to the specific medication.

lwagnitz

The first pill I was on (don't remember the exact name; but it was the traditional kind) I had lost some weight. But it gave me super super bad cramps and actually made me get ovulation pains so bad that I couldn't stand up, so my doctor switched me to one where I got my period only every 4 months. That one I gained 15-20lbs on and made me so bipolar and crazy and depressed it was horrible so I didn't stay on that long either. I decided to stay away from the pill for awhile since.

sweetchildomine

I just got on the pill a few weeks ago and I've actually lost a few pounds. It seems to have made me lose my appetite. I guess it depends on which pill you're taking and how your body reacts to it.