More estrogen - more weight gain?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-2003
More estrogen - more weight gain?
3
Sun, 10-01-2006 - 9:24pm
If a pill has more estrogen, is the potential weight gain higher? If someone is on one pill and gained 5 pounds when she began taking it, if she switches to a pill with double the estrogen, would she gain more? Or the opposite -- if going from a high estrogen pill to a low, would one lose weight?
Avatar for tucker317
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 2:05am

It is not the estrogen component of BCP but the progestin part that increases appetite. In other words the "male" hormone so to speak. For example, the Depo shot has a big history of weight gain and there is no estrogen in it. Maybe the estrogen is causing water retention or bloating? Those are listed as side effects with excess estrogen. And I can also say that since switching from Ovcon 35 back to Loovral, I have been hungrier. Never thought about it, but I did lose weight during those months I was on Ovcon 35. Hmmmm.

Then again, the researchers will also say that BCP do not make people gain weight, eating makes people gain weight. Probably most of these researchers are men. We as women, who have to deal with all the nonsense of men, know it doesn't matter anyways. Life causes stress, hormones (natural in our body or those we put in our body) cause stress, men cause stress, kids cause stress, etc, etc. What fixes stress? Salt and chocolate. So be it. We're going to gain a few pounds anyways. If you need BCP (unless you are just using them for PURE medical reasons) there must be a man in your life. Reread the above sentences. LOL! :)

I have a great chart I have acquired from Facts and Comparisons. A little out of date, but it has the basic info in it. That's where the info in the first paragraph came from. The info in the second paragraph came from general magazines (esp first sentence) and living my own life (esp today and my husband today) and being on lots of moms' boards (the best source of commiserating about such things as stress, chocolate, salt and fruity drinks with alcohol....)

Diane

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 7:34am

In my own experience, I haven't gained any weight regardless of the pill I've taken.

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-02-2003
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 11:48am
Thank you for your reply. Appreciate it!