OC and breast size

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2004
OC and breast size
3
Thu, 05-27-2004 - 11:13pm
I am getting married in 2.5 months. I decided that I should finally get my act together and go on the Pill. I was discussing this with my maid of honor (a med student), and she immediately told me that my wedding dress, which my mother has made and we've already fitted, won't fit because everyone she knows who's gone on the pill has had their breasts increase by at least a cup size.

My rational side tells me that this is not a good reason to change my mind. That it's more important to not be pregnant if I want to fit into my dress.

But my devout Catholic mother that made my dress would certainly notice if my breast suddenly no longer fit into it. She'd probably think that I'm pregnant, and all I'd have to console her with is that I'm on the Pill, which would probably upset her even more.

I'm 27 years old. I work in a health related field, and I should be able to look at the studies and make heads or tails of whether this is true. I've found information that says that overall weight stays the same. But I can't find any information on this side effect.

Has anyone heard of this before? Do you think it's likely that my breasts will increase in size in only 2.5 months?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2004
In reply to: nemo27
Thu, 05-27-2004 - 11:39pm
Everybody responds differently to birth control pills, so you may or may not gain breast size and you may or may not gain weight. in my experience, the amount of progestin in my pills seems to dictate size. when I was on ortho tric-cyclen, my breasts were smaller than usual the first week (lowest progestin levels), normal the second week, and larger the third week (about half a cup size, largest progestin dose). on seasonale, which has a smaller amount of a more potent progestin in one consistent dose, my breasts have been at the 3rd week cup size constantly. the change took about 2 weeks.

I think if you've decided that you want to go on the pill before your wedding day (presumably so you'll be covered for the honeymoon) and you're willing to get the dress refitted if you gain weight or your breasts change, I would just go for it. If your mother seems concerned and you don't want her to know you're on the pill because she may disapprove, simply tell her you put on a few pounds. she doesn't need to know why.

if you're really worried about breast and body size changes, why not use condoms or another barrrier method (like a diaphragm or cervical cap) for the honeymoon, then go on the pill afterwards?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: nemo27
Thu, 05-27-2004 - 11:59pm
Hi nemo27, welcome!

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

It is true that breast size increases for some women on some pills and the increase, if it occurs, is rapid. There can be other side effects as well as your body adjusts to the hormones. If you do experience side effects they usually disappear within 3 cycles or so, so the sooner you begin the sooner your body will adjust to the hormones. We all are different so it's impossible to say how a particular pill will affect you until you try it. I think the lower the estrogen the less likely you are to experience breast enlargement. The method with the lowest estrogen available in the U.S. is NuvaRing http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/index.asp? NuvaRing is a vaginal ring that is worn for 3 weeks and removed for one for your pill period. Most members posting about NuvaRing seem to like it. You might want to ask your doc about hormonal contraception and what s/he would recommend. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck! Jill

Co-Community Leader for Birth Control



Edited 5/28/2004 12:20 am ET ET by cl-dancer31

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
In reply to: nemo27
Fri, 05-28-2004 - 12:21am
For some suggestions concerning oral contraceptive selection see: http://www.fpnotebook.com/GYN85.htm

      Jill