Let's talk about Birth Control

I've recently switched Birth Control's because my first pill was irregulating my period & causing me to gain 20 something pounds. I've since that one switched but the weight's still there. I wouldn't drop the pill because I am too in a relationship where in my case is essential to keep it, I'd try increasing exercise and cutting out sugary foods. Maybe lower portions if possible.
Hope this helped! (:

Don't take the pill. Use the ring if you can. If it doesn't have to go through your digestive tract then it's got a lower dose... thus, less side effects. This is what my doctor told me.

Im on Yasmin, and I actually lost about 9 lbs when I started taking it

I'm using an IUD, specificly Mirena. So far I haven't gained any weight because of it. *shrug* Plus, I think it's fantastic I only have to pay once every 5 years.

I went off my pill because I hated it, I must have had like 7 different pills since I started, none of which agreed with me. It mucked with my hormones and I definitely put on weight. If you can, and are happy to use something else/take a risk, do it. Of course everyone's circumstances are different but I have been a lot happier off it.

Love the Nuvaring. Had it for 4 years and then got the Mirena. I kept the Mirena for a year and then got it taken out and went back to Nuvaring. I love it because it is once a month, regulates your cycles, and I never experienced weight gain with it. Actually, the opposite. First time I got it, I lost weight without even trying. Since I went back on it, I'm losing again, slowly.

When I went off the pill I gained about 20lbs and 2 kids. Just sayin'.

The first BC I was on made me gain weight like crazy. I've been on Loestrin for the past 5 years and I haven't had any problems. My weight gain was because of my eating habits. I know this because the weight starts to fall off when I work out regularly and eat healthy. I agree of the other who have posted before that you should check with your doctor before stopping anything. Especially something that messes with hormones.

I've been on the pill for 7 years now & yes initially I did gain BUT after about 3 months and being put on the "Lo" version on my BCP I regulated out and was able to start losing all that weight...It all came off in about 6 weeks (15 pounds). Good Luck!

im on the depo shot right now, and yes it has made me gain about 20 pounds in 9 months according to my gyno. i heard the ring helps with that, but i don't trust myself putting something in and having a chance that it could be deffective, plus my gyno told me its common for it to fall out during sex. so im sticking with the shot because i onlt have to remember to go to the doctor every 3 months.

I use the contraceptive implant, experienced no weight gains but my period's are messed up :P

Birth control CAN make you gain weight, not always fat, but water weight, and like mentioned above, can change your BMR so your normal eating habits may have to change depending on how your body reacts to the hormones.

I have been on birth controls nonstop since the age of 18. I have used various BC pills, Nuva Ring, the Patch, the Shot, and my last two I were on were Yaz and Seasonique. I gained weight about 5 pounds with every single one of them and my "Cravings" went up with each one. I started taking water pills and the extra weight would stay off while I was taking them.

I do have to mentiont his though because it is super serious! I have always used BC as instructed and never had any previous health problems with the exception to be overweight and having a bad back, when last year I was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism and DVT (BLOOD CLOTS) in my right thigh. I loved seasonique when I was on it because I only had a few periods a year and they only lasted 2-3 days. After I had the blood clot at the age of 27, I started looking online and found out that Seasonique has a higher percentage of DVT's and Pulmonary embolisms in young females then most other BC's. There are forums dedicated to parents who have lost thier daiughters due to these blood clots and some were on no other medications adn were healthy and not overweight. This has a chance of happening with any birth control, but I would highly recommend that if you are considering a new form of BC, please read the studies and try to look for one with the lower risks and lower reported percentages of fatalities. I almost died because of my birth control and can never be on birth control again because now I am high risk for more clots due to the damage my previous clots have done to my veins.

My doctor told me that some BC methods don't use the same hormones as others. For example, your body will absorb the medication from the patch if you are on that BC, and certain factors can make your body absorb more then it should at one time. These factors include heat, like if you are on a heating pad, or if the patch is defective. So the patch though convenient, isn't as consistent as other BC methods.

I am only sensitive about BC now because of what happened to me. I never smoked, so I didn't think someone my age with a history of being on it just fine would ever have any complications. Be Careful girls! Don't end up a horror story! PLEASE always be mindful that BC is not completely safe just because it is commonly used!

Now I am just 1 person out of the 1% that it happened to last year, and that means that 99% of you will never have issues, but be cautious because no one ever thinks that they will be part of that 1% until it happens!

while we are on this womanly subject, how do you fight the urges to not work out or binge eat on your period????? this is one of my biggest struggles!

Im on Yasmin, and I actually lost about 9 lbs when I started taking it

Same here! I take Safyral though which is the same thing except it contains folate. I get the WORST carb cravings during the last week of active pills. I'm like a pregnant woman, I get extremely fatigued and hungry. I'm actually relieved when I'm on the placebo week because I feel normal again despite that TOM.

I chose not to use an IUD or Mirena.

I read about a potential hazard from Mirena. It could slip inside the uterus and, worse, tear the uterus. This could cause one to bleed uncontrollably. By thte time you got to the hospital, your uterus could be super messed up . . . and if you bled too much you could be in irreversable shock & die.

So, I asked my ob/gyn's nurse about whether or not she's seen a Mirena slip inside a uterus. She admitted that she had, but that it had always been implanted by another doctor then mine. And, she saw it cut one woman's uterus.

Yes, BC has side effects that can kill you too. It all depends on what risks you and your doctor are going to have.

Having had two kids, BC & IUD & all other things, are nowhere near as dangerous as a delivery or C-section!

My older sister took BC through her 50s, to avoid having a hysterectomy & to help her get through menopause. She didn't smoke, exercised, and came out fine.