Birth Control And Weight Loss Or Gain

Weight gain is a common fear for women considering going on oral contraceptives, known more commonly as "the pill." While weight gain is a common complaint of women taking birth control pills, this complaint if often based on misconceptions. According to the available evidence, birth control has no relevance to weight gain or loss.

Research

According to a 2008 study in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, researchers M.F. Gallo and colleagues at the Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that most studies of different oral contraceptive methods showed they had no real impact on weight change. Titled "Combination Contraceptives: Effects on Weight," the study searched several computerized databases including MEDLINE and POPLINE, looked at clinical trials databases and requested data from known investigators and manufacturers. Columbia University's "Go Ask Alice" column says that any change in body size while taking oral contraceptives tends to be minor and temporary.

Weight Gain Factors

For the minority of women who do gain some weight, the combination of estrogens and progestins is usually the culprit and can cause fluid retention that is usually temporary. Some pills with higher levels of progestin may cause an increase in appetite that can ultimately lead to weight gain unless you cut back on calories or increase your exercise.

Pills to Maintain or Lose Weight

Some oral contraceptives are less likely to cause weight gain, according to women's health expert and advocate Dr. Donnica Moore, a physician educator and founder of the women's health information website DrDonnica.com. She references the work of researcher Andrew Kaunitz, who tracked over 5,600 sexually active women in the U.S. taking both Ortho Novum 7/7/7 and Cyclessa for six months. Published in the journal "Contraception" in 2000, the results showed that those women who took Cyclessa experienced a weight loss of a little less than half a pound. Drugstore.com also notes that the oral contraceptives Brevicon, Tri-Norinyl, Triphasil, Ortho Cyclen and Ortho Tri-Cyclen are less likely to cause weight change.

Bloating Prevention

Consider taking Yaz or Yasmin if you fear bloating, as these pills contain a progestin known as drospirenone that acts like a diuretic and prevents water retention. You should not take Yaz or Yasmin if you take a lot anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen, or have kidney, liver or adrenal disease. Drospirenone helps your body hold onto potassium, which can lead to serious heart and health problems in people with these conditions.

Natural Weight Change Factors

Many women begin birth control as teenagers or in their early 20s. This is a period when women are naturally at the lightest weight of their lives. According to "The New York Times," most women naturally gain weight over the course of their lives and may inadvertently blame this weight gain on the pill.