birth control pill

Hi everyone! just a question I wanted to ask.... and see what other people's experiences are.

I've heard that the birth control pill may cause weight change or an increased appetite. Im sure some studies have said there is no such change.... but of course it is something that concerns me!

What kind of body changes (if any) did you experience?

I haven't had negative experiences (weight gain) from birth control, but I have heard the same thing.

In my opinion, if you watch what you eat and have self-control (instead of giving into cravings) you shouldn't experience any weight gain/body changes...

Depends on what pill you take.  I'm on Yaz and it controls my moods and eliminated my cramps.  This has led to a massive weight loss.  I can exercise finally.  It's approved for use to control PMDD, which is likely what I was suffering from.  (severe PMS)

When I first started taking the pill (I was 17), I gained between 5-10 pounds. I was taking Ortho Tri Cyclen. My doctor told me that initial gain is water build-up, but obviously the pill introduces some new hormones into your system, which can cause increased appetite and more permanent weight gain   I think that if you're in your teens, it probabaly causes more of a change, after all, hormones and appetite and growth are all fluctuating like crazy during those years anyway right?

Yes, most of the time it does cause a weight change. I took Alesse over a year ago and I gained weight but more in my breast area (bonus! hahaha)

I tend to disagree with Kelleigh's last statement because when it comes to this type of BC, everyone is different. Most people do gain weight and I don't believe it is 98% of time because of poor eating habits but rather because hormonal changes within one's body. Like I said, everyone is different but I myself do gain weight and it's not something noticeable like in my tummy area.. I usual go up a cup size or two..

I started taking Ortho Tri Cyclen a year and a half ago, and I have gained weight since then, but also a lot of other changes went on in my life too so I cant pinpoint the weight gain directly to the pill.

The only thing that happens is that your appetite changes. Weight gain will only happen if you don't take care of your calorie intake and just eat all day :p

I've been on Yasmin for about 5 months now and I haven't noticed any weight gain at all.

i use the nuva ring and i would highly reccomend it! its so easy. put one in each month and take it out after three weeks! so simple. you don't ahve to remember to take a pill every day.

i haven't had any bad side effects and i dont get cravings or anything like that. the only thing that happened was that my boobs grew a significant amount. haha not such a bad thing!

when I was in highschool I went on the pill for a year, and that caused weight gain for me, about 5-10lbs. I stopped taking the pill for several years, but last year I went on it again. The doctor put me on orthomicronor, which is a progesterone only pill (no estrogen), and it has worked great! They put me on it because of my migraines, and regular estrogen pills can often make migraine symptoms worse.  The progesterone only though has helped eliminate them, and I havent gained any weight this time. They are hesitant about putting people on the progesterone only kinds because you have to take them THE EXACT same time everyday, you don't have the leeway time of several hours that you do with the regular pill.

Good luck!

As long as you stay in control of yourself you shouldn't have a problem with weight gain.  I've been on many different types of birth control for years (right now OrthoEvra patch) and any weight gain I've experienced is purely because I like to eat.  I started Yasmin 2002 and a low carb diet at the same time and I managed to lose 50 lbs - from 220 to 170 and then maintained that for years.  Now I'm losing weight again on birth control - trying to go for 150 finally!

My experiences with birth control pills...

Took Alesse for about 8 months - made my acne way worse & my moods swings were unbearable for me and my Boyfriend. I had horrible PMS and was very aggressive, angry and irritable for no reason.

Then, switched to Linessa for approx. 7 months - my skin was back to normal (for me is slight acne), which was a huge improvement from what Alesse did to me. My moods were more stable (back to normal for me), my breast would swell every night (I took the pill at dinner and they would be back to normal size by morning), but my breast were so tender and sore all the time - very painful when touched and at the end of me taking Linessa, very painful all the time. Also, 2 months before I stopped using it I had a period that lasted 2 weeks and was also spotting that month. The last month I was on it, I spotted for 22 days, then went straight into having my period.

Now, Yasmin 2 1/2 months - my skin is a bit worse (not sure if it is the pills or because it is really humid out lately - my acne is always worse in the summer) and I am hungry all the time, which, I have never experienced before in my life. And, it has nothing to do with my diet because I eat more now because of it. It is like I am hungry 24 hours a day. So weird, I hate it! It started soon after switching. Other then that, my moods are as stable as they are without birth control pills.  I haven't experienced any weight gain, but I am losing more slowly due to my increase calorie intake.

My doctor's says that it takes your body about 3 to 6 months to fully adjust to switching birth control pills, stopping using them or just taking them for the first time. That includes, if you are taking them to help with acne, it could make your acne a bit worse in the beginning, but it takes about 6 months before you would see a noticeable improvement. If you have any improvement at all.

I just hope that this one gets better and I don't have to switch again.

People's experiences vary so widely with the pill.  I have seen many "side effects" reported in common, though.  I will tell you my experiences with the pill, tell which ones I've been on (that I remember) and what they ALL did to me, more or less.  I've been on the pill off and on, but pretty much continuously, for about 16 years.  Just got off it 3 months ago, for good, and just had a nonhormonal IUD inserted this morning. 

With all the pills, except Yasmin, I gained weight.  My appetite was increased.  Bigtime.  With Yasmin, I wanted to eat the entire house and contents for a solid 2 weeks before TTOM.  Still, I didn't gain on it.

With every pill, I had:  Daily, unrelenting headaches.  Extreme exhaustion and fatigue, all day, every day, regardless of sleep or activity.  Unbelievable moodiness/swings, grumpiness, irritability, paranoia, and terribly depressed mood.  Back pain and generalized muscle aches.  ZERO libido, every day, any day.  These are just the high points.

Within 6 weeks off the pill, every time I have been off, all of the above symptoms go completely away.  I feel normal.  I have tons more energy, no pain, no headaches, and my libido is higher than ever.  I don't know WHAT I'll do if I can't tolerate the IUD because I'll never go back on any pill. 

I liked Yasmin the best, but I still had the above problems with it.  I liked Yaz and Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo the least.  I've also taken Ortho-Novum 777, Ortho 1/35, Ovral, Lo/Ovral, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and Ortho Evra, that I recall for sure, and probably others. 

They're all evil, I tell you!    Yes, if they work, they provide obvious benefits.  In my case, though, the side effects are very hard to ignore and negatively impact quality of life in a major way, not just mine, but everyone in the house.

Good luck.  I hope you can find one that you can live with. 

I recently went off of the delightful Seasonale (though I'm going back on it ASAP - just forgot to refill the scrip in time) and within the first week of going off it I lost 8 pounds - BUT I really don't look any different at all, and my clothes fit the same.  For me, I think I gained the weight from retaining water, but it wasn't particularly noticeable.  It didn't change my appetite - none of my pills did.  I also had NO nausea and clearer skin.  I started at 15 on Yasmin, then switched to Seasonale when I saw the commercials. 

Just make sure you're drinking the 8 glasses daily of water any time you take a new medication (unless you're specifically told not to - though I have no idea why you'd be told not to).

Enjoy the pill - whichever you take.