Talk to me about birth control ...

My weight gain actually started with the depo shot years ago....I now have a paragaurd and it increases the pain of my periods so much - I have cramps nearly all month now. Not the same for every one but I am getting mine out early and having my tubes tied- I think you can push to have this done- once you are over a certain age they are better about it!

I'm on NuvaRing right now and it's pretty great. No weight gain, and I actually noticed a lowered appetite for quite a while when I first started. The only negative is that it's expensive without insurance and makes my period a bit longer and heavier.

I'm on NuvaRing too. When I switched from the pill to the ring, my doctor warned me that first few periods would be heavier then progressively get lighter, and they are now very short and light (average or 3-4 days- the last 1-2 being just spotting). My cramps which were AWFUL on the pill are non-existent now and I love that i don't have to "remember" it every day. It almost never falls out either

So, I've been eating well and working out for 5 months now and have lost no weight at all (despite trying a few different calorie levels each for a good month at a time) and it has occurred to me that perhaps my birth control isn't helping. I currently use Depo Provera (the injection) and it is well known that this causes weight gain, especially around the mid section (my problem area).

As a result, I'm off to the GP to research my options and, subject to his opinion, i'm thinking either Yasmin or Cerazette.

Was just wondering what the women on here used. What they had found caused weight gain. I'd like some real person info to arm me when speaking to my Doctor. :-)

Please share.

Yasmin made me drop weight fast, but also made me nuts....I would feel "off" when it was that time of the month and my pms got baddddd, i'd scream at people for no reason. A lot of friends of mine got the same reaction. I think that's why it was pulled off the market

I'm on Aviane or better know as Alesse. I haven't had any problems loosing weight on it. In fact I started loosing weight like crazy the first few months. I don't know if there's a connection there or just a coincidence though.

I used Microgynon 30 for over two years. In that time my weight steadily increased until I had gained almost 3 stone. My nurse was concerned and suggested I go to Slimming World. I was eligible for a 12 week course with them for free because of my weight gain. Instead I just came off the pill. I lost 35lb in the first few months with hardly any change to my diet.

After a year I decided to try something else so went back to my doctor. I asked him for a pill that would be less likely to make me gain weight. I was told that the pill doesn't make you gain weight but he suggested the Depo Jab. I was only on it for 3 months. It was awful as I actually bled the whole 3 months and had terrible side effects including weight gain (and this time I was logging on here and knew I was eating right). I actually believe that it was water weight though as I was horribly bloated and started holding water on my lower legs.

Of course I didn't go back for my 2nd jab but instead I took a spare packet of Microgynon I had left to try and stop the bleeding that was still continuing even after the 12 weeks period of the jab had ended. I decided to continue with the pill and see if it was what made me gain weight or indeed if it was my own fault. Oh boy! My appetite was scary! It shot through the roof. I had been back on it less than a month when it stuck. I would get so hungry I would feel physically sick until I ate something.

It seemed my only choice was to come off it totally or face piling the pounds back on. My friend suggested I visit the Local family planning clinic and speak to them as she didn't went to her doctor for birth control, only there. I made an appointment and saw a really helpful lady. I explained everything to her and how the pill affected me.

She was shocked my doctor suggested Depo after I asked for less likely weight gain as its actually the only BC that is science proven to make some women gain weight. She also told me that its the progestogen that made my appetite increase.

I went on to Femodene and have been on it for roughly 4 months. Happy to report I have had no side effects, no increase in appetite and I am now back on the road to a smaller me.

However saying all this.... women are all different. What works for one, may not work for another. There are so many different types and generations of pill that there is a good percentage of a chance that there is one out there that will be right for you. I would also highly recommend going to Family Planning instead of your doctor (if not this time then next). They make a big big difference. I was told by my doctor that all pills where the same and if one didn't agree, none of them would. I beg to differ.

Good luck. I hope you get something thats right for you.

Loestrin Fe 24 here.

I was put on it because I had terrible, long, bloody, painful (I passed out multiple times, and even inflicted self harm because it made the pain feel lessened) periods. I have been checked for ovarian cysts by ultrasound and they cannot find anything wrong with me other than I just have bad periods. I was refractory to all OTC pain meds before I was placed on this. Been on it for 4 years and counting.

My periods are now so light that my heaviest pad is a "light days" and often I just wear black underwear. They have gone in length from 7-10 days to 3-4 days. I still have pain, but I am fully awake and able to move even on my worst days. I still have to stay sitting on the worst day with a heating pad, but I'll take that over screaming pain. I was able to lose 20 pounds on it, so clearly it didn't affect my weight loss anyway. No affect what so ever on my acne. :frown:

Fair warning, my gyno flat out told me that the first three months are an adjustment period ON ANY BC PILL. She said that unless you had crazy problems (uncontrolled bleeding, clots or extreme depression/suicide attempts to name a few) you really should stay on the pill for 3 months before you decide if it works.

Side note: One of my good friends went from happy, healthy and fine to depressed and attempted suicide in less than 2 weeks after the Depro shot. When she did not received the next shot, she returned to normal as if she had been possessed. I've heard similar stories on the neuvo ring from other friends. If you experience anything like that, CALL YOUR DOCTOR.

I went on Ortho Tri-cyclin lo for I think 3 months and gained at least 15 lbs, I switched to Generess Fe and was able to lose most of it except the last stubborn 5 lbs to get to where I was. I barely get a period only slight bleeding on the 3rd non hormone day (there are 4) and slight dripping for the next 2.

Non-hormonal IUD. Best thing ever. Never going back.

I use the sympto thermal method of family planning and have used it successfully for 12 years now. Natural healthy and scientifically proven to be as effective as the oral contraceptive pill. ...and no weight gain! Learn with an accredited teacher though to make sure you are interpreting your charts properly.

the only thing that didn't cause weight gain for me = vasectomy.

I have had an implant for about 12 months. I havn't noticed any weight gain that I couldn't put down to exess food and lack of exercise. The best part about the implant is I have not had a period for 11 months. I love it.

Thanks all

Sadly I don't think a coil will be a good option for me, I have very painful periods which is why I went on the Depo in the first place and apparently coils can make all that worse.

Wish I could just get sterilised really, but it isn't something doctors are willing to do for a woman who doesn't have children.

I was going to say... I had IUD for a couple of years and the worst periods I've ever had in my life, just crippling. Don't do it

Never had problems with weight gain on the pill, but I was young, poor and non-sedentary I suppose!

These days I leave it to HIM. (when there is a HIM)

Let us know what doc says.