Questions for ladies on BC

So, I'm overweight and having the darnest time trying to lose the weight. I truly do think my body loves the weight I'm at, because it ain't budging. However, I may look into getting on birth control since I'm all grown up and such :P and I was wondering if any of you have experienced an increased difficulty on losing weight due to birth control or something??

Just looking for some thoughts. I'll die if I gain any more weight! :X Okay, so maybe I'm being a bit of a drama queen but I really don't want to gain any more weight!

I'm on YAZ, and it didnt make me gain a pound. The only form of B/C that REALLY makes you gain a significant amount of weight is the depo shot. My mother gained 20 lbs on it, and so did my friend. 

As far as YAZ goes, i like it quite a lot. The only thing that bugs me is that if i miss a pill i feel sick all day. And when i first went on it it made me very sick for a day or two. Other than that, it's great! 

I really think that the whole 'weight gain due to birth control' thing is blown out of proportion. There are TONS of side effects listed if you read the entire information booklets that come with each brand. I just think that weight gain is such a fear for most women that it became the side effect most discussed, and therefore slightly increased.

I am not a medical expert, and I don't know exactly why the body gains weight from taking the pill. I expect it has something to do with the chemical hormones in themselves... but if you think about it, it can't be the pill itself, there are insignificant calories inside - it's the 'appetite' that you acquire from taking it. I am suspicious that when women hear that you gain weight on the pill, it makes them believe that and they in turn gain weight. I wish I were a psychologist so I could explain it better... it's something like, they now have an excuse to have a bigger appetite, so they eat more. Like a reverse placebo or something, you know what I mean?

I have been taking BC for 8 months or so (brand is Lutera), and have lost weight easily during that time with a healthy eating and excercise. I believe this is entirely possible for you and all women.

I second folkharpist. The pill is no excuse for gaining weight. If you continue to eat healthy and exercise, then you will not gain weight. I have been on Loestrin FE 24 for 3 months, and since starting it I've actually lost 5lbs. My weight loss is not because of the pill, though. It's because 3 months ago I made lifestyle changes and starting eating healthy and exercising. Any woman who tells you she gained weight on the pill would've gained that weight regardless. People just love to blame anything (except themselves) for their weight gain. 

I am on Ocella which is the generic Yaz and I LOVE IT. I have been on other brands in the past that have effected me negatively.....on this pill, I feel no different and this may be TMI, but it made my chest bigger - but that's it. Good luck!

I disagree that it is a sort of excuse for gaining wait, I do think certain BC's affect your appetite, but it is all dependant on the individual.

I never gained weight from my first BC pills but came off them because they stopped doing their job of reducing my menstrual pain. My second BC pills, Loestrin, made me have the urge to eat ALL the time, even when I really didn't want to (unlike the pervious poster). It was something I felt I couldn't control, but I took notice of it and consulted my GP. 

There are different BC pills/implants for a reason - every person reacts differently to different hormones and your GP should be able to help you with that choice if you inform them of any side effects when you notice them.

I don't think that BC has a profound effect on your weight, over all.  Particularly if you're already monitoring it and watching what you eat.  When I first started BC I wasn't doing any of that, and I did gain, but I probably would've anyway.  I loved my first pill, but they don't make it anymore.  After that, I took a little break and then started Femcon FE (which is really, really great if you're prone to anemia).  Now I'm unemployed, so I'm taking what the women's health center can give me for free, which is Lo-Ovral.  It's not bad, but if I'm half an hour late taking the dang thing, I start my period, which isn't fun.  It has really helped my skin, though. 

Just bear in mind that there is no such thing as the "perfect pill" but there is a best pill for you, and you might have to try several before you find it.  Good luck!

Oh, and mudcakebakery is right about the depo shot.  My mom gives it to any patient who requests it, and nearly all of them gained significant weight off that.  I don't think it's coincidence or them being lazy (many of them are pretty weight conscious).  I have a problem suggesting that birth control NEVER makes a woman gain weight--beware of words like "always" and "never."  Hormones and fat are intimately related to each other, and it's not outside the realm of possibility for a chemical to mess with your body in ways other than what you intended. 

I've heard enough bad things about weight gain from the depo shot to believe it.

But pills (in general), you shouldn't gain from them. If you are like me, and one of them (in my case Loestrin 24) makes you a miserable slug, you'll gain weight from the inactivity and emotional eating, but not as a direct result of the pill.

Just some thoughts on the 'weight gain on the pill' issue.

When do a lot of people go on the pill? When they get into a relationship. What happens when you're in a new relationship? A lot of times, eating out, staying in and watching movies, drinking, spending time at the movies instead of jogging, ect. Thus, one gains weight. Which might cause someone to think "Since ive gone on B/C, i've gained weight! The pill did it!" 

Just sayin. 

Woo, what a read. :) Thanks for all the input, ladies. I know there are several side effects but I don't want to think about those and I just pray I will be lucky, lol. I am concerned about weight gain because I'd rather not take birth control, then. I was under the impression that weight gain was caused by the hormone load, rather than just people eating more, or any other factors. But since I hear so many good things... It calms me down a little.

I doubt I will go for a shot, I'll probably just go for the pills, instead. I'll have to discuss it with my doctor. Well, I don't even have a doctor, I work at a clinic. And one of the doctors asked if I was sexually active yet, and I said no. And she prompted me to get bloodwork done and go to her consult so that she can start me on something. I work with ionizing radiation so I guess it's smart to take care of myself, so I just went along with it. I am still hugely terrified of taking hormones but I trust this woman. ;)

Thanks, again!!

I lost weight on Ortho Tri Lo(it made me sick to my stomach, so I couldn't eat much) My friend is currently on Yaz and gained weight and she is as healthy as they come. She is a vegan and works out every day. Her breasts have grown a cup size and hurt all the time. She has been so frustrated that she took herself off. Now, everyone is different, so BC effects everyone differently. My mother got a blood clot from hers when she was younger. I don't think I ever gained weight, but I wasn't happy on it that's for sure. All those hormones mess with your mind. I'm not saying don't take it, but just be careful. Pick a good one, particularly one low on the levels of hormones.

Yeah, I really hate the thought of hormones in my body... But I'm trying to stay positive and rule out that any side effects will affect me. ;) I will definitely tell the doctor to prescribe one with a low dosage... I told her I was scared of them, and she said not to worry and that she'd help me. We'll see. If they don't work for me, I just won't take them.

Thanks! :)

Someone will seriously have to pry the depo shot out of my cold dead hands before I stop taking it. I've been on it for 5 years now and as much as I would like to blame my weight gain on it and not my poor eating and exercise habits I just can't. If I gained any weight from it the only one who noticed was the scale at my doctors office (maybe 5 lbs max). I'm not sure love isthe right word for a BC but I greatly appreciate the depo shot, it has eliminated 100% all of the medical reasons my doctor put me on it, I couldn't ask for a more effective medication (not to mention the whole preventing pregnancy thing 99% effective).

However I'm not advocating you go in there and ask for it. Just like eveyone else said it is important to remember everyone reacts differently to medication so you may need to try a couple before you find the one for you. I just felt bad depo was getting such a bad rep, it can really help some people.  

Original Post by gabita:

Yeah, I really hate the thought of hormones in my body... But I'm trying to stay positive and rule out that any side effects will affect me. ;) I will definitely tell the doctor to prescribe one with a low dosage... I told her I was scared of them, and she said not to worry and that she'd help me. We'll see. If they don't work for me, I just won't take them.

Thanks! :)

Sometimes putting the extra hormones in your body can make a world of difference (for the better) as long as you find the right one for you.  I have a hormone imbalance and my doctor put me on NuvaRing - I love it!  It emits a continuous low dose of hormones and I don't have to remember to take anything every day.  It balances me out and makes me not feel crazy, which is a wonderful thing!  Oh, and I haven't gained any weight from being on it.

Well, I went to the doctor and she gave me some birth control pills for me to try. I'm kind of anxious to start, and hoping to God there will be no ugly side effects and that they will just be a blessing. :P Yep, that's how it's going to be. It's some latin american brand name but they are the same components as Yasmin, so we'll see how it goes!

Thanks again to all of you who posted and advised me! I told my mother that if I begin wanting to eat all the time, that she shouldn't let me. I hope I can get a grip if that happens.