Weight change and contraception

ajheath122
ajheath122 Posts: 1 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, I have some worries I'm hoping some women can help me with. I've been working steadily on losing weight since the start of May, usually managing to go to the gym about 5 times a week (though I'm aiming for 6) and keeping an eye on my eating, and am steadily losing 1/2 pounds a week.

This week I got the nexplanon contraceptive implant, my first contraceptive method. One of the possible side effects is weight gain. While I'd rather not get pregnant than be skinny, it is something I'm concerned about.

Has anyone had this form of contraception and sucessfully lost weight, or even maintained their weight?

Replies

  • capaul42
    capaul42 Posts: 1,390 Member
    Keep in mind that the weight gain side effect of most birth control isn't direct. The hormones used in most birth controls tend to increase our appetites. Which is why we gain.
    Weight gain is also listed as a side effect of my birth control and I've been steadily losing since I started it, a month after I started MFP.
  • BMI2
    BMI2 Posts: 4 Member
    Hi Ajheath122

    The more the hormone more the likely goo of weight gain

    You've done it, nexplanon is similar to mini pill except hormone level, God knows, how many times more than the pill

    The only one doesn't mention weight gain, yet still 1% risk, is IUS (Mirena Coil)

    Depends on your age, if you have children, or want more, period, sex, etc etc

    If you want message me your details for more adv.

    Good luck
  • erryereri
    erryereri Posts: 24 Member
    Although my situation does not involve birth control, it's similar due to the increase in estrogen.
    I have been taking spironolactone for my acne for over a year now, with the dosage gradually being increased to 200 mg a day in December. It has completely cured my acne because of its testosterone blocking effects, which has significantly decreased the amount of testosterone in my system. Although it has been great for getting rid of acne and even causing an increase in bust size and slowing the rate of body hair growth, I have gained weight since taking it due to the estrogen.

    I've been under a lot of stress due to me graduating university soon and writing my thesis, and I believe that I've gained about 15 to 18 pounds in a little over a year due to my metabolism changing from the effects of estrogen, and me eating more due to stress. (I have also heard that estrogen can increase appetite, but as I have only heard that by word of mouth and on statements online, I won't state that it's fact.)

    What I would do is measure your weight once or twice a week while on birth control. I didn't catch my estrogen weight gain (and link the two together) until about a 15 pound gain. If you know for sure that you have been doing the exact same things and eating the exact same amount of calories from when you were losing before, and if you see a weight gain of, let's say, 5 pounds in 8 weeks, then you know there is likely a problem.

    Then maybe try decreasing your intake by 100-200 calories for a week or two, and if there's still a weight increase, decrease calories further or increase exercise. If there's no change, continue to monitor to see if that's the magic number for maintaining, and if you've lost weight, you've found the weight loss number again!

  • abatonfan
    abatonfan Posts: 1,120 Member
    Something to think about with hormonal birth control: both versions of the pill are designed around women who are less than180lbs, which may mean that the pill may not be as effective in an obese woman (this was something that was brought up by my pharm professor as a quick side note during the lecture -I would assume the same implications are present in other forms of hormonal birth control).

    Much of the weight gain can also be due to fluid retention (increased water weight) versus fat gain. Estrogen increases plasma fluid volume, which will cause an increase in weight. I'm having issues finding reputable articles related to estrogen causing increased hunger (instead, I found an interesting article on estrogen decreasing appetite and subsequently manipulating estrogen levels as pharmacological treatment for eating disorders in women)

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