Does BIRTH CONTROL make you gain weight?

I was put on birth control maintain my period and make it regular and help with PMS...

But I'v heard it makes you gain weight!!!

Is this true?!

they make me lose my sex drive. Now there's an irony.  Easier to have sex but no desire!

I'm obviously heavier than when I started taking the pill (12yrs old).  I'm 20 now and I've tried probably close to 6 different kinds.  I've heard that what makes you gain is that the cravings become pretty unbearable, so you tend to eat more/junkier foods.  It's been a long time, so I can't really say if it's gotten worse, I've always liked junk food lol.

OMG I hear ya about the decrease in sex drive....I'm experiencing that right now!! My poor boyfriend...I'm getting thinner and look better than I have in years but I want NOTHING to do with him!!!

I am going to talk to my Doctor next week to see what he can suggest for alternatives to what I'm currently on.

I have tried about 10 different kinds of b/c.  Most made me very sick (throwing up the second I woke up till noon-you could time it)  I did gain some weight. The one I took the longest and most recent was Yasmin....it was great! No weight gain and no "up-and-down" emotions.  However, over the last two years my side affects became worse and more noticeable to where it interferred with my life.  I would be sick, couldn't pay attention, couldn't wear my contacts, migranes you name it. 

I recently decided to quit taking them. I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THIS TO SOMEONE WHO ISN'T IN A COMMITED RELATIONSHIP.  Now I feel soooo much better.  B/c pills affect people differently and my case is probably more extreme then others....I would suggest to try something different if you have bad side affects.  I liked Yasmin and Yaz because of their low dosage and their different type of hormones.  Good luck

Every body has a different body, with different needs, different responses. As someone who LOST weight going on the pill, I can say that the pill does address the underlying issue, which is hormonal. Which is what BC pills are. There is no medical or surgical "cure", no  other answer. For SOME people. Doctors are usually pretty good at that kind of thing.

And yes, in 33 years of BC I have gone through a lot of different kinds, but I can tell you that everyone of them was better than the steroid the stupid male doctor put me on at 16 without explaining the consequences of withdrawal.

Sometimes what our body does "naturally" needs intervention. Decide which inconvenience is easier to live with - weight that might be associated with your pill, or periods from heck...

when I started Seasonale 3 years ago, I noticed I felt hungrier than usual but if I gained anything, it was maybe a pound or two (cause I was eating more.)  I'm going off it in a week so we'll see if I spontaneously lose any weight.

I think the story that BC makes you gain weight came from the original pills, which were much higher in female hormones than today's pills. 

I don't gain weight but my boobs seem to get a bit bigger & I feel like it's more difficult to LOSE weight while I'm on it.

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The official word... yes there's official study reports on this now (when I find them I'll post them)... is that the change in hormones increases appetite, anyone who is susceptible to that will gain weight.  As long as you keep your diet in check then you won't "automatically" gain weight just because you're on the pill.

You guys have certainly helped. I am going to finish up the "three month trial phase." I'm at the middle of my second month now. So we'll see. Thanks!!

I gained ALOT on Alesse. But everyone reacts differently, some lose weight, some gain, some stay the same.
I'd pay close attention to your mood though. In myself and many (actually every single one) of my girlfriends, the pill had caused severe depression.

BC update: I have been off Seasonale (the 4-periods-a-year BC) for 5 days now and have noticed that my appetite has increased and I'm definitely more . . . amorous . . . than I was last week. 

'Course, the appetite could be from "increased activity" but nevertheless, I think it's a little odd.  It's also my third week of hardcore diet and exercise.

its a self perpetuated myth.  my doctor showed me the EXTENSIVE studies that have been done on birth control and weight gain.  birth control DOES NOT physically cause one to gain weight... It became this big ordeal and basically, if you gain weight on the pill, its because you believe you are going to.. hence eating more which is followed by the weight gain.  if you can convince yourself u arent going to gain weight on the pill, then you wont :)

This is my 6th day on YAZ so far so good.  Im taking it to regulate my periods I have't had it for 3 months.  I got kind of anxious seriously I was going crazy because I thought I was pregnnant and I took 3 home pregnancy tests and 2 blood HCG tests=Negative.  Yet I still feel weird.  But I don't know hopefully I'll get my period soon sorry to say this but I miss it *tear* Tear*

I also believe it is a myth and I think people use it as an excuse. I have been on Depo for 2 yrs and the only reason I gain weight is because I eat to much. I have lost 16lbs since jan2, currently 105.

Everyone's body is different.  Basically, differnt people store fat wherever they are genetically pre-disposed to store it.  Therefore, if you are on a normal hormonal borth control that typically causes water retention and weight gain, you will gain weight.  Some people do not notice because their bodies gain weight fairly evenly.  Others notivce it is more apparent.

Personally I would not recommend Ortho Evra to anyone who gains weight easily, especially in their lower body.  The hormones are absorbed directly and you get 100% hormone as oopposed to oral pills where you digest 60% of the hormone.

I gained 25 pounds on Ortho Evra (yes, unbeliavable..but true)Once I went off of it, I lost 10 pounds that month.

Now I am on Yasmin (another hormonal birth control that has a dieuretic in it. I have not gained any weight since, but have found that the hormones stilll make weight loss hard, even with walking 2-3 miles per day and following a healthy diet.

Hormones have also caused me to lose my sex drive as well.

So after all is said and done Im having a non-hormonal IUD implanted next week.  Which in my opinion may be the best alternative for me.

However, I strongly disagree with those who feel that weight gain on birth control is a myth (it really depends on your body, but weight gain is quite common).

I was put on the pill for acne since i was like 12 and took it until i was 17 (which was a long time) my average weight was 65kg even though i exercised. i decided to go off the pill as the doctor told me i needed a break from it.

i went off the pill and continued to do my usual routine and within 6 months i had dropped 57kg which looked bad because im 5'10. When I went back on it after a year I got stomach pain and it made me feel sick but i forced it and my body got used to it.

I'm now 65kg again. i hate the pill. im sure it has some long term side effects that they just havent discovered.

I've been on the pill for 8 years, same one, Ortho-Cept.  It's pretty low-dose.  I've gained about ten pounds over that time, but I think it's due to sedentary habits and overeating (and my love for beer).  My concern is that if I go off of the Ortho-Cept, that my boobs will shrink.  I gained about two cup sizes over the time I've been on the pill, and I'm afraid if I lose them, that my breasts will succumb to gravity pretty badly.  Has anyone who's gone off the pill had experience with this?

Im sorry that isnt a reply to what was posted, but im not enirely sure how to start a different chat. I started takign birth control, but stopped after taking 3 pills. I took it while i still had my last period. Now, a month later, my period is a week late. Is this normal, or could i be pregnant?

does anyone know if kelnor brand of birthconrtol makes people gainweight?  i havent started it yet but im going to soon.