When considering using an oral contraceptive, there are a good number of questions that women regularly ask regarding using the pill; one of the biggest questions that comes up repeatedly has to deal with weight. This is a legitimate concern because stories about women gaining weight while on the pill are widespread and are often mentioned among friends or passed down from generation to generation.However, there are also many scientific studies that demonstrate that the likelihood of gaining weight while on the pill is more complicated than most people think. By differentiating between medically verified facts and common assumptions, women will be able to make a better and more confident decision regarding which form of contraception they would like to use.
The way that oral contraceptives work is through the use of hormones. These hormones inhibit ovulation, thicken cervical mucus so that sperm cannot travel to meet the egg, and thin the uterine lining. All of the aforementioned actions related to using the pill involve a change in the way that the body works in conjunction with its various hormonal and non-hormonal systems. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that any of the aforementioned mechanisms could possibly affect appetite, fluid balance, and/or fat distribution, among other things.
Many systematic reviews, such as those done by the Cochrane Collaboration, have tried to determine whether or not there is a relationship between weight gain and oral contraceptives. All of these studies have concluded that there is no definitive evidence to prove that taking birth control pills is correlated with gaining significant amounts of weight in most women.However, individual women can have very different experiences with different products, and those experiences shouldn't be dismissed as unimportant. There's no evidence from the vast majority of the larger studies to suggest that all women have a reliable and predictable relationship with weight gain and birth control pills.
Several mechanisms explain why some women perceive weight gain even when true fat mass has not changed significantly:
Not all birth control pills are the same. Different types of progestin affect women's health and men’s health in different ways.For instance, Yasmin Tablet is a type of combination oral birth control pill that contains both ethinyl estradiol, an estrogen hormone, and drospirenone, which is a type of progestin that has some mild anti-mineralocorticoid effects. These properties make Yasmin particularly advantageous for some women, as drospirenone's mild diuretic effect helps reduce fluid retention associated with hormonal imbalances caused by other progestin types.
Recognising signs of pregnancy is particularly relevant for women who may have missed doses or for whom some medications may reduce the effectiveness of their prescription contraceptives. Common initial symptoms of pregnancy, such as missed periods, sore breasts, tiredness, and vomiting, are sometimes confused with side effects related to taking the pill. A short call to your doctor or a home pregnancy test is generally all you need to provide clarity on whether a claim of being pregnant or whether the side effects were associated with the use of the pill.
A number of side effects can occur when beginning new oral contraceptive use; these tend to resolve themselves after 2 to 3 months, since your body will acclimate to the hormones. The most common initial symptoms experienced while on the new oral contraceptives will be light nausea, breast tenderness, spotting before menstruation begins and possibly mood swings. Nausea is typically reduced when the pill is taken at the same time each day and with a meal. Also, side effects that last longer than 3 months or are not in proportion to your health history should be discussed with a medical provider before you stop taking this form of birth control.
It’s important to remember that overall age, metabolism, food intake, exercise level, and stress play a much larger role than most hormonal contraceptives in affecting your weight. Because there are many factors contributing to gradual weight gain after starting a pill, weight gain should be addressed as a combination of all the contributing influences and not an isolated impact of the pill.
The decision to choose and adapt to a method of birth control involves not only physical considerations but also psychological and emotional considerations. Concerns regarding appearance, fears concerning potential side effects based on others’ experiences, as well as the emotional ramifications of deciding to become pregnant can all be an important part of this discussion.
A follow-up appointment within the first three months after starting any new oral contraceptive allows the physician to assess any side effects, monitor blood pressure, and resolve any concerns prior to providing justifiable reasons to not use or discontinue the method without developing a plan for an alternative. Annually thereafter, women should receive a review of their current method.
Concerns about gaining weight should not prevent a woman from using an effective method of contraception that is otherwise appropriate for her. There is currently no scientific evidence to support a strong, universal link between significant weight gain and most recent formulations of oral contraceptives; however, every individual will experience some degree of variation in their sensitivity to hormones or to a given formulation.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified gynaecologist or healthcare professional before starting, switching, or stopping any contraceptive method.