weight Gain

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
weight Gain
3
Wed, 09-29-2004 - 5:57pm
I am marrieg i have been for almost a year. I dont want kids right now. So i am on birth control. I dont like the weight gain. Does anyone know which birth control will help you not gain weight?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: shavaughn2004
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 7:36am
Well, barrier methods don't cause weight gain, that's an easy suggestion. A lot of people aren't crazy about them (condoms, cervical caps, diaphragms) because they require more effort, and some doctors think that barriers are archaic and aren't cool with fitting them (the cap and diaphragm).

IUD's also don't cause weight gain, but some doctors will require that you have kids first. We do have several IUD users here that don't have kids though.

There are _a lot_ of birth control pills (and the patch and the ring) on the market, and each different formulation can have a different effect on _your_ body. Weight gain isn't a guaranteed side effect of birth control pills, only the shot. We all tolerate hormones differently, so what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. I have been on hormonal contraception for almost 8 years, four different pills and Nuvaring, and I didn't gain weight from any of them. So if you're not happy with the pill that you're on after you've been on it for 3-4 months, you can ask your doctor to switch to a different one that might not have the same effect on you.

To find out more information on stuff, you might cruise through our FAQ section and read about what's in the pills, how they work, there is a blurb on weight gain in the side effects post, and we have a post on what all the birth control options are.

I hope you can find something that works for you!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
In reply to: shavaughn2004
Fri, 10-01-2004 - 5:54pm
i would like to see about the patch. One of the girls in my office did say that a girl got blood clots from the patch and died? is that true and is it safe?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: shavaughn2004
Mon, 10-04-2004 - 9:09pm
Blood clots are a risk with any hormonal contraceptive, they are actually a rare occurrance. When the media gets ahold of a story like that (yes it's true), it spreads like wildfire, but you're actually more likely to get blood clots from giving birth than from hormonal contraceptives unless you're a smoker over the age of 35. Higher estrogen doses increase the risk slightly, but the estrogen doses are a lot lower than when the pill was first developed 40 years ago. All of this is described in the patient information that comes with every pack of pills, every package of patches, and every Nuvaring, it's required by law. And if you can't find your patient information, you can read it on the internet at the website for that particular pill (or the name brand if you take a generic).

The hormones in the patch aren't new, really, it's just the method itself that's different. Pharmaceutical companies have been developing patches for all kinds of things, it seems logical that birth control would be next. Testosterone, estrogen, nicotine replacement... We can absorb chemicals through our skin.

If you're concerned about safety, why not call your doctor for his/her advice? Or your pharmacist?

I hope that helps, let us know if we can help with any other questions!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control