Birth Control wt. Gain Please help!!

[Denise]

I recently started a new birth control and have gained 5lbs already! My eating and exercise habits have stayed the same or even improved. I like everything else about the birth control, so I'd hate to stop using it, but the extra weight is pretty frustrating! Does anyone know why birth control makes you gain weight? What is the best way to lose/prevent this weight gain? Ant help or suggestions is greatly appreciated!!

[Laura]

I don't know how long you have on the pill, but my experience has been that 1) it takes awhile for your body to adjust and 2)you might want to consider a different pill. When I was on the pill the first one the dr. put me on was very low dose but it caused weight gain and a lot of intermittent bleeding. I tried that one for 2 months and quit b/c of the bleeding. I then tried Ortho tri-clyclen and didn't have any problems. You might give it 2 months and if it doesn't work ask for different brand. My dr. gave me samples until we found the one that worked best for me.

[mb]

i took ortho-tricyclen, but still felt much plumper than before! talk to your dr about the dosage - maybe it's too high? or maybe try a different brand. good luck!

[emilycat]

I've always been really anal about medications causing me to gain weight, so I take the lowest dosage available. I used to use Loestrin, but now I use Alesse, and I haven't had any problems with either of them.

I did, however, ask my doctors why the pills would make you gain weight, and my impression is that the extra weight is due either to fluid retention or extra calories from increased hunger cravings. The actual pill doesn't make you gain real weight, as far as I know.

[mb]

the weight gain might have something to do with the hormones...? several women i know are taking prempro for menopause and are also experiencing a weight gain similar to that of when you start on the pill. we all just figured it's an estrogen thing...

[pmmahan]

I experienced some weight gain with Ortho Cyclen (not Tri)- I was on that for 2 years and now I am on Loestrin (3 years now) and I have no problems. I think the "right" pill will not cause weight gain, and everyone is different.

[Vanessa]

I think the weight gain caused by birth control pills are due to hormones in the pill. Also it could cause water retention. You might want to discuss other birth control pills available with less side effects.

[Gail]

I seem to recall reading something about birth control hormones changing the hydration in your system, which can even cause changes in your vision as a contact lens wearer! As I recall-- and birth control pills have undergone myriad changes since when I began using them in the Pleistocene-- there was a period of adjustment and things leveled off. Personally, I'd mention this weight gain to your physician and see whether he/she feels things will probably level off with you or if a switch might be in order.

[Danielle]

I'm glad you asked this question. I've been on the pill for five years, and I've always wondered what was the whole deal behind the weight gain.

I actually have another question about the Pill to ask you ladies. It's kind of personal, so I'm a little embarrassed to ask. But hey, there's already been a discussion about pooping on the delivery table, so maybe this won't be so bad. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

For those of you on the Pill...have you noticed a lack of, shall I say, *desire*, when you started or switched brands of pills? I originally started out on Ortho Novum 7-7-7, and was on that for about two and a half years. I had no problems at all with it. But then I started a new job and my new health insurance didn't cover Ortho Novum, so I switched to TriCyclin (not Ortho). Within two-three months I noticed a dramatic change in my libido. I talked to my doctor and she switched my to Loestrin. No change. So the last time I went in she switched me again to Brevican, and I think there has been a little bit of a difference. I'd really just like to go back to Ortho Novum, but my insurance doesn't cover this brand and even requires a prior authorization for me to get it (oh the joys of belonging to an HMO). I've talked to my pharmacist and she said Ortho Novum probably worked better for me because it was a tri-phasic instead of a mono-phasic, which makes sense.

I'm also trying to keep in mind that women usually hit their sexual peaks later (30s), and I'm only 26. It's just frustrating to feel this way, and I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this same issue.

[pmmahan]

Danielle- I can sympathize with your issue.
I have been on the pill for over 5 years now (I am 23) and noticed that libido problem more when i was on Ortho Cyclen. Now I am on Loestrin and I feel the problem has lessened somewhat. I really wish I didn't have to be on the pill, but it really is effective. I have never had a pregnancy scare.

[mariakj]

Denise- you may want to ask your doctor about Estro-Step which is the pill I currently take. It has three different levels of estrogen for each of the weeks which is supposed to be more natural. Each week the dose goes down to simulate what your body does naturally. I have been on Estro-Step for 3 years now, 2 years before my son was born and a year since. I have not had any weight gain and no other side effects. I used to be on Loestrin and I can tell you that I like Estro-Step much better.

[funnybone]

Well, I am the opposite of you all. I went off the pill last year after being on it for about 17 years (with the exception of when I was trying to get pregnant). My reason for getting off of it (Ortho 777) was that I wanted to see if my migraines were pill related. I have suffered from migraines long before I started to take the pill, but they have changed since I had my kids.

Anyway, I have gained about 7 to 10 lbs in the last year, AND have horrible PMS (I never did before). Plus, my headaches are not better, and possibly worse. Also, I lack "interest", where I really didn't before. I am actually going back on it after my pap test next week.

On the insurance note, my insurance co will not pay for certain brands. However, I used to pay for it myself (although not cheap), and will do so if I know that a certain brand is better for the way my body tolerates it.

[Denise]

Thanks so much for all the responses! I am actually not on the pill, but am on Depoprovera, a shot I get every 3-4 months. I don't think it comes in different doses, though I will check. I am terrible about remembering to take pills everyday, so I thought this would be a great alternative. I have had very light bleeding 1 week a month (bleeding is supposed to be reduced with Depoprovera). Unfortunately my doctor, who I really like for many reasons, is very unsympathetic about weight gain. She is of the opinion that birth control is a good excuse for people who have gained weight out of laziness. I am positive that there has been no change in my eating or exercising habits!
So I guess my question is: Is there any healthy way to lose the water weight I've gained? Any particular way to lose this weight other than dieting and more exercise?
Thanks for all your help!

[Kerri]

I just want to say, I hate being on the pill. I really feel like I am a different person because of it. I also gained 5 pounds once I started and I do believe this is due to the pill. I was on it before, and also gained weight, but when I went off it, I lost the wegiht. I was discussing this with a friend of my who is a pharmacy student and she didn't believe me about the weight gain, then she went off the pill and lost 7 pounds, and refuses to start taking it again! Anyways, I digress.

I did here something about the shots being different from the pill. This is NOT scientific, just so you know. I think a friend of a friend of a frien told me that weight gained from the shots is harder to lose than that from the pill. Don't know why, but it is something to think about.

I take ortho-cyclen. I am taking it for endometriosis so I don't know if I could switch. I wish I could answer the libido question, but before I was on the pill, I was taking a drug that put me into a temporary menopausal state and although I do feel less interested in sex, I think it is because of these drugs and not the pill, but I could be wrong.

I have no advice to give you, because I am still trying to lose my 5 pounds, but just diet and excerise. Keep in mind that the whole point of this pills is to make your body think you are pregnant and that is why you have all of these funny symptoms. Good luck!

[This message has been edited by Kerri (edited 04-24-2001).]

[KValley]

What a relief this thread is- it's so comforting to know that others have the same problems I've had!

Danielle, a friend of mine switched to Ortho Tri Cyclen, but went back to Ortho Novum after a few months because she experienced a pretty dramatic drop in libido. I went to OrthoTriCyclen after years on Ortho Novum and didn't experience any decrease or increase in desire. I think it is a matter of experimenting with different types.

funnybone- I quit taking the pill a year ago, after 14 years of nearly non-stop use. DH and I were (are) hoping to get pregnant and I just wanted to give my body time to rest, regulate itself and prepare for getting pregnant. I was dreading quitting the pill, because the previous two times I'd gone off I went through a horrible few months of endless periods, weight gain, wretched PMS. I finally gave up and started the pill again.

For whatever reason, this time was completely different. My periods regulated themselves in just a few months, my PMS is actually less than it was on the Pill. I did gain weight, about 5 lbs, but I think that has to do with the fact that since the late summer I have been working from home and I don't get the "natural" exercise I used to (walking to/from bus stop, walking across campus to meetings, up and down the hall to other offices, to meet with students, general stress). The big regret I have has been that my pre and post ms breakouts are worse than when I was a teenager- this has been really frustrating and since I am staying away from any oral medicine, I can't take a prescription remedy for it. But that also seems to be "clearing up" in the past couple of months.

Darn, but don't men have it easy!

[Foodie49]

To Denise,
About the Depo shots. My daughter was on these for about a year. It was only after she gained about 20 lbs that same year that I happened to have someone tell me about drastic weight gains with the Depo shots. I passed this on to my daugher, who has now gone off the shots and back onto the pill. Within 3 to 4 months all of her extra weight went away. I think it was mostly water retention, she looked very "puffy". We heard similar stories about others on the shots.

[Rae]

My cousin, who had been very thin for her first 28 years (through two pregnancies) gained 25 pounds after the Depo shot and then had quite a bit of trouble conceiving their third child. Based on her experiences, I would avoid that shot like the plague! I'm sure that it works well for some and not for others.

I use Allesse and was told by my doctor that it helps maintain your current weight. I do know that I do less "hormonal" (once a month) eating while on it. I'm curious if any other Allesse users were told anything similar by their GYNs.