ask your pharmacist

Can birth control pills cause me to gain weight?

The combination of hormones (estrogens and progestins) found in some birth control pills can lead to weight gain. These hormones cause fluid retention, increased body fat, and a bigger appetite in some women. Changes in eating habits, lack of exercise, and some medical conditions can also affect body weight whether or not you take birth control pills.

Some birth control pills are less likely to cause weight gain. They include Brevicon, >Necon 0.5/35, >Tri-Norinyl, >Triphasil, >Ortho Cyclen, >Ortho Tri-Cyclen, and the progestin-only minipills (>Micronor, and >Nor-QD).

If you're worried about gaining weight, cut back on calories and get more exercise. Talk to your health care provider about switching to another birth control pill if you think it's possible that your pill is causing weight gain.

References:Contraceptive Technology. Ardent Media, 1998.Dickey, R.P. Managing Contraceptive Pill Patients. EMIS Inc., 1998.

This answer prepared 8/16/99.

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