Sex Fact: Weight Gain on the Pill

Contributor: Kayla Kayla
Not everyone gains weight while taking the birth control pill. 95 to 98% of women, in a blind study, found that they did not gain any weight. Others lost weight. A woman's own personal experience is up to her body and the brand of pill she's taking. If she finds that a certain pill makes her gain weight, talk to your doctor about switching to a different brand.

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Have you ever gained weight while on the pill? Has the fear of gaining weight kept you from taking the pill?
Answers (private voting - your screen name will NOT appear in the results):
Yes, I've gained weight while on the pill.
19
No, I've never gained weight while on the pill.
19
Yes, I've avoided taking the pill because of weight gain.
3
No, I've never avoided taking the pill because of weight gain.
11
Yes, I've taken the pill.
23
No, I've never taken the pill.
8
Total votes: 83 (50 voters)
Poll is closed
06/06/2011
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Contributor: Vegan Silk Vegan Silk
I gained weight on the pill, but I'm not sure it had anything to do with taking the pill. I don't take the pill for other reasons now.
06/06/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
Not everyone gains weight while taking the birth control pill. 95 to 98% of women, in a blind study, found that they did not gain any weight. Others lost weight. A woman's own personal experience is up to her body and the brand of pill she's ... more
I gained weight while I was on the Pill, (I used at least 6 or more different types and still gained weight.) I gained a LOT of weight on Depo Provera (which is a long term inject-able form of artificial progesterone, used for birth control and stopping menses for medical reasons) I have also gained weight recently, since I have been on an Estrogen creme and only a small amount of progestin, to help with some very severe peri-menopausal symptoms (mainly, having great difficulty having an orgasm, which never happened to me before the peri-menopause.)

I know that the inserts say only a small number of women gain weight, but those "studies" done on weight gain and the Pill usually only followed each women for a few weeks after starting the Pill, few if any studies have been followed women for more than a month on female hormones. As most of us know, most of the weight gain happens over time on hormones. I've just seen too many women, while working in women's health, who have gained weight on hormones to believe some 2 week study that was done to benefit the drug industry.

As a nurse and a woman who has suffered from this problem, I truly believe that MOST women gain weight while on estrogens and progesterones. Even natural female hormones cause added fat to be deposited on the breasts, hips, buttocks and abdomen (it's one of the signs that sexual maturity and proper hormone release has started in young girls) so there is no reason to think that synthetic hormones would do anything different.

And, since the Pill often simulates a pregnant state, (to prevent ovulation) and all women put on fat stores during pregnancy, it only makes sense that, at least over periods of more than a week or two, synthetic hormones in any form cause weight gain in most women.
06/06/2011
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
I gained weight on the shot, and I fluctuate on the pill. Although the fluctuation I think is more a natural fluctuation than anything to do with my pill lol
06/06/2011
Contributor: Coralbell Coralbell
I'm the same weight now as a I was when I started taking the pill a few years ago. There's been some ups and downs in between, but nothing that I think was related to the pill.
06/06/2011
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
I've never gained weight on the pill. Over the past 16 years or so of consecutive use I've probably tried 10 different formulations, and never gained weight with any of them. I've now been on Seasonique for several years, and still no problems.
06/06/2011
Contributor: Chilipepper Chilipepper
Weight has remained the same for me (neither up nor down). I have more problem with weight gain on anti-depressants.
06/06/2011
Contributor: mandiegk mandiegk
I gained weight with one of the pills I've taken. I've switched pills probably about 5 times. The 4th pill I tried I gained about 20 pounds. I'm really short so it was really noticeable and I was very unhappy so I stopped taking it for two months before switching to a new pill and I lost 15 pounds no problem - it just disappeared without me putting in any effort.
06/06/2011
Contributor: Miss Anonymous Miss Anonymous
I have never gained weight on the pill, but i have gained weight on the Depo shot! worst BC ever!! I did enjoy not getting my period but the weight gain and the body pain isn't a even trade.
06/06/2011
Contributor: ToyGurl ToyGurl
Never once gained weight on the pill, but I have gained weight on the patch. Actually, on the patch I gained quite a lot of weight. About 15 lbs WHILE I was dieting. It was my senior year in high school and it was just horrible.
06/06/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Miss Anonymous
I have never gained weight on the pill, but i have gained weight on the Depo shot! worst BC ever!! I did enjoy not getting my period but the weight gain and the body pain isn't a even trade.
Yeah, Depo is awful for me too. The insert says 4 to 5 lbs. I gained 40 lbs, which is a lot of weight for a woman my size. I lost it within months of going off Depo.
06/06/2011
Contributor: LavenderSkies LavenderSkies
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
Not everyone gains weight while taking the birth control pill. 95 to 98% of women, in a blind study, found that they did not gain any weight. Others lost weight. A woman's own personal experience is up to her body and the brand of pill she's ... more
Never taken the pill but I'm hoping I wont gain.
06/07/2011
Contributor: Retro Retro
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
Not everyone gains weight while taking the birth control pill. 95 to 98% of women, in a blind study, found that they did not gain any weight. Others lost weight. A woman's own personal experience is up to her body and the brand of pill she's ... more
I voted I have never taken the pill but that is a lie. I have taken it but not long enough to see if it does anything. I first was on the pill then quit. A few years later I started to take it again but I did not like how it made my cycle. I messed up and missed just one day, not even a 24 hour span, and my period started right back up after a few days of just finishing it. I took the 2 I was suppose to take and then decided I wanted a different method so I quit taking it and it happened again. I was very sure I didn't want to take the pill if it caused that change so suddenly.
06/07/2011
Contributor: Miss Morphine Miss Morphine
I lost weight after I started the pill.
06/07/2011
Contributor: deletedacct deletedacct
I gained weight taking the pill & NuvaRing but am happily on an IUD now (Mirena).
06/07/2011
Contributor: Sammi Sammi
I gained it at first, but then took it off.
06/07/2011
Contributor: Bunnycups Bunnycups
Never gained weight while taking the pill.
06/07/2011
Contributor: PiratePrincess PiratePrincess
I gained weight on the pill, but as soon as I changed brands of pills the weight came off
06/07/2011
Contributor: Jobthingy Jobthingy
I tried 3 rounds of depo and it did nothing for me. I had no weight gain but i had spotting ALL the freaking time during that 9 month span. It was brutal

I was on the pill for the better part of 10 years and although I did gain weight (maybe 15 or so lbs) I do not believe it was directly related to the pill so much as getting older, less active in the winter months, working a job for a while where I sat, etc..
06/07/2011
Contributor: Kdlips Kdlips
I was on the pill long time ago did not gain weight
06/07/2011
Contributor: The Curious Couple The Curious Couple
My fiancee is on the pill and she hasn't gained any weight.
06/08/2011
Contributor: irishlove irishlove
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
Not everyone gains weight while taking the birth control pill. 95 to 98% of women, in a blind study, found that they did not gain any weight. Others lost weight. A woman's own personal experience is up to her body and the brand of pill she's ... more
I started taking the pill a few years ago and didn't experience any weight gain except my boobs got bigger which was a good thing for me. I stopped taking it for awhile then started taking it again and didn't experience any weight gain this time either. I've never had weight problems though if that plays a factor. I've been 105-115 for years now. It's hard for me to gain weight.
06/14/2011
Contributor: Ms. Spice Ms. Spice
i've never gained weight and my boobs never got bigger. but that's ok
06/17/2011
Contributor: Rain. Rain.
I gained a small amount of weight but nothing to be concerned about.
06/24/2011
Contributor: lovemuscle n cookie lovemuscle n cookie
I didn't really gain weight with the pill, but I did gain weight while on the depo shot.
06/29/2011
Contributor: MaryExy MaryExy
I never gained weight, but my boobs are getting a bit bigger... I think that's just normal growth, though.
06/29/2011
Contributor: BlackxxxRose BlackxxxRose
It depends on which pill it was. The one I'm on now hasn't made me gain weight and has actually helped get my cycle under control. Yaz and another type each made me gain 20lbs and made me crazy.
08/07/2011
Contributor: SiNn SiNn
Quote:
Originally posted by Kayla
Not everyone gains weight while taking the birth control pill. 95 to 98% of women, in a blind study, found that they did not gain any weight. Others lost weight. A woman's own personal experience is up to her body and the brand of pill she's ... more
ive heard that u can i dont take the pill in general
08/11/2011
Contributor: LAndJ LAndJ
I gained weight on the pill, and it's definitely difficult to get rid of while on the pill.
12/20/2011
Contributor: switzerland switzerland
i think it contributes to my mood swings, which contributes to my eating habits
12/22/2011