weight affects the effectiveness of BCP?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-05-2004
weight affects the effectiveness of BCP?
2
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 1:07pm
I was just reading an article on this website that said your weight can reduce the effectiveness of your BC. It said that if you weigh over 155 the pill might not prevent pregnancy as well as if you weigh less than 155. Has anyone here (who weighs over 155) actually become pregnant while on the pill? And do you think a 5 or 10 over 155 would really matter? I weigh about 150 right now but I was just wondering IF I gain weight does anyone know if the pill will not work as well?

thanx

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 2:01pm
If you found that, you should also have found our MANY responses to this exact question! ;) Here's an excerpt from a post I wrote back in May:

ONE researcher found, through asking subjects questions after a prior study, determined that --statistically-- the women in her group that got pregnant on the pill weighed 155 pounds or more. She did not do a study on how effective the pill is for various weights!

Reading this article may make you feel better: http://www.contraceptiononline.org/contrareport/article01.cfm?art=261

In my own experience being here, doing my own research on the pill, and watching the nightly news, I'd say that women's magazines and my local news are about equal as far as reporting just enough information to incite a riot and leaving out the stuff that doesn't cause alarm. I don't trust the mass media to accurately report anything, particularly if it involves medicine or technology!

I hope that helps you, I've been "battling" this issue since it was first reported in the October 2002 Cosmo, at least now Contraception Online has an article about it! :)

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 2:01pm
Hi oeskimopieo, welcome!

This concern comes up frequently. The only hormonal method that has a caution about weight is Ortho Evra, the patch, for women at or over 198 lbs.

For a medical prospective on this question and the Holt article read: Oral Contraceptive Prescribing: Should Body Weight Influence Choice of Pill? http://www.contraceptiononline.org/contrareport/article01.cfm?art=261 The best thing that you can do while on OCs is to always take them correctly. For tips about getting maximum effectiveness from your pills read Taking your pills correctly in the FAQs. Does this help?

Good luck,

      Jill