Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe ConnectionHow It WorksTypes of ContraceptivesSide EffectsPreventionSummaryFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Connection
How It Works
Types of Contraceptives
Side Effects
Prevention
Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Although rare, some women report gaining weight temporarily while on thebirth controlpill. This is because birth control can lead to the retention of fluids for a short period of time. Read more about birth control and its other risks and symptoms.
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Connection Between Birth Control and Weight Gain
A variety ofbirth controlmethods exist to help sexually active individuals prevent pregnancy.The pillis one of the most convenient and commonly used contraceptive methods.
There are two types of birth control pills:
Though a highly effective contraception method, birth control pills carry some concerns for women worried about side effects such as weight gain. However, research indicates that the association between weight gain and birth control is limited.
A Guide to Birth Control Pills
How Does Birth Control Make You Gain Weight?
While there may not be significant weight gain due to birth control, some individuals report gaining weight while using the pill, especially when first starting the pill.
In the past, birth control formulas included higher levels of hormones, leading to instances of weight gain. Today, much lower levels ofestrogenare used.
An increase in estrogen levels can cause a person to retain water. Therefore, the combination pill is more likely to cause weight gain because it contains estrogen.However, this fluid retention may be minimal and should dissipate within a few months.
Gaining weight while taking birth control may be attributed to other factors unrelated to the pill, including:
A study that examined progestin-only pills have revealed that after six months to one year of use, participants gained less than 5 pounds. Ultimately, a significant change in weight is not expected with birth control.
Types of Contraceptives That Affect Weight
Fewcontraception methodsimpact weight. Birth control injections and implants may cause some fluctuation in weight.
Specifically, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera), a progestin-only shot, has been linked to initial weight gain.Even though there is some research indicating weight gain with these methods, the evidence is minimal.
Other Side Effects and Symptoms of Contraceptives
Aside from fluid retention that may cause initial fluctuations in weight, other side effects are possible with the pill, including:
Everyone responds differently to changes in hormones from birth control. It is always recommended to communicate with a healthcare provider when noticing new or worsening symptoms.
If you havemigraines, you should discuss this with your healthcare provider, as they may recommend using a form of birth control that doesn’t contain estrogen, particularly if your migraines are associated withaura(sensations that precede or accompany a migraine).
Minimizing Birth Control Side Effects
How to Manage and Prevent Weight Gain
Working with a healthcare provider can help identify and monitor any causes of weight gain while taking birth control and develop a plan to combat it.
Recommendations for preventing and managing weight gain include:
Talking with a healthcare provider about available options can help you make an informed decision to manage any side effects.
Changing Birth Control MethodsIf you are experiencing negative side effects from taking the pill, discuss other birth control options with your healthcare provider.
Changing Birth Control Methods
If you are experiencing negative side effects from taking the pill, discuss other birth control options with your healthcare provider.
Research on the relationship between birth control pills and weight gain indicates that oral contraception does not have a significant impact on weight. Though some people experience weight gain, this may be due to increases in estrogen levels resulting from the combination pill. This weight gain is attributed to water retention and dissipates over time. Consulting with a healthcare provider can help inform your decision about what birth control method to use and how to tackle any side effects.
A Word From Verywell
The possibility that the pill could cause changes to your body may be concerning, and it may factor into your decision to use this type of contraception. Any potential concerns you may have are valid and can easily be explored with your healthcare provider. The decision to take birth control is a personal choice and many people try different forms of contraception before finding the right option for themselves.
Frequently Asked QuestionsResearch suggests that the pill does not cause significant changes in weight.Some individuals report gaining weight initially when starting on the pill. However, this may be due to fluid retention, which is possibly due to estrogen if you are taking a combination pill (includes progestin and estrogen). Progestin-only pills do not contribute to weight gain.Weight gain due to birth control, specifically an increase due to water retention, may dissipate on its own in a matter of months.For people withpolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a healthcare provider may prescribe birth control to regulate and balance hormones. Weight gain tends to be a symptom of PCOS, not a result of the birth control being administered to help manage symptoms.
Research suggests that the pill does not cause significant changes in weight.Some individuals report gaining weight initially when starting on the pill. However, this may be due to fluid retention, which is possibly due to estrogen if you are taking a combination pill (includes progestin and estrogen). Progestin-only pills do not contribute to weight gain.
Weight gain due to birth control, specifically an increase due to water retention, may dissipate on its own in a matter of months.
For people withpolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a healthcare provider may prescribe birth control to regulate and balance hormones. Weight gain tends to be a symptom of PCOS, not a result of the birth control being administered to help manage symptoms.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Progestin-only hormonal birth control: pill and injection.InformedHealth.Contraception: do hormonal contraceptives cause weight gain?Updated June 29, 2017.Gallo MF, Lopez LM, Grimes DA, Carayon F, Schulz KF, Helmerhorst FM.Combination contraceptives: effects on weight. Cochrane Fertility Regulation Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003987.pub5Lopez LM, Edelman A, Chen M, Otterness C, Trussell J, Helmerhorst FM.Progestin-only contraceptives: effects on weight.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;7(7):CD008815. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008815.pub3Le Y-CL, Rahman M, Berenson AB.Early weight gain predicting later weight gain among depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users.Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2009;114(2):279-284. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181af68b2Planned Parenthood.What are the side effects of the birth control pill?Beksinska ME, Smit JA, Guidozzi F.Weight change and hormonal contraception: fact and fiction.Expert Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;6(1):45-56. doi:10.1586/eog.10.77
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Progestin-only hormonal birth control: pill and injection.InformedHealth.Contraception: do hormonal contraceptives cause weight gain?Updated June 29, 2017.Gallo MF, Lopez LM, Grimes DA, Carayon F, Schulz KF, Helmerhorst FM.Combination contraceptives: effects on weight. Cochrane Fertility Regulation Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003987.pub5Lopez LM, Edelman A, Chen M, Otterness C, Trussell J, Helmerhorst FM.Progestin-only contraceptives: effects on weight.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;7(7):CD008815. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008815.pub3Le Y-CL, Rahman M, Berenson AB.Early weight gain predicting later weight gain among depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users.Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2009;114(2):279-284. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181af68b2Planned Parenthood.What are the side effects of the birth control pill?Beksinska ME, Smit JA, Guidozzi F.Weight change and hormonal contraception: fact and fiction.Expert Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;6(1):45-56. doi:10.1586/eog.10.77
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Progestin-only hormonal birth control: pill and injection.InformedHealth.Contraception: do hormonal contraceptives cause weight gain?Updated June 29, 2017.Gallo MF, Lopez LM, Grimes DA, Carayon F, Schulz KF, Helmerhorst FM.Combination contraceptives: effects on weight. Cochrane Fertility Regulation Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003987.pub5Lopez LM, Edelman A, Chen M, Otterness C, Trussell J, Helmerhorst FM.Progestin-only contraceptives: effects on weight.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;7(7):CD008815. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008815.pub3Le Y-CL, Rahman M, Berenson AB.Early weight gain predicting later weight gain among depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users.Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2009;114(2):279-284. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181af68b2Planned Parenthood.What are the side effects of the birth control pill?Beksinska ME, Smit JA, Guidozzi F.Weight change and hormonal contraception: fact and fiction.Expert Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;6(1):45-56. doi:10.1586/eog.10.77
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Progestin-only hormonal birth control: pill and injection.
InformedHealth.Contraception: do hormonal contraceptives cause weight gain?Updated June 29, 2017.
Gallo MF, Lopez LM, Grimes DA, Carayon F, Schulz KF, Helmerhorst FM.Combination contraceptives: effects on weight. Cochrane Fertility Regulation Group, ed.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003987.pub5
Lopez LM, Edelman A, Chen M, Otterness C, Trussell J, Helmerhorst FM.Progestin-only contraceptives: effects on weight.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;7(7):CD008815. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008815.pub3
Le Y-CL, Rahman M, Berenson AB.Early weight gain predicting later weight gain among depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users.Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2009;114(2):279-284. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181af68b2
Planned Parenthood.What are the side effects of the birth control pill?
Beksinska ME, Smit JA, Guidozzi F.Weight change and hormonal contraception: fact and fiction.Expert Review of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;6(1):45-56. doi:10.1586/eog.10.77
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