Birth Control Pills & Weight: What You Need to Know

Many women who use hormonal birth control have experienced weight gain. Studies on this effect are generally inconclusive, making for a frustrating experience for women trying to choose the best birth control option. There's no way to know for sure whether a certain pill or other contraceptive product will cause you to gain weight.

Preventing Weight Gain

• Hormonal birth control products deposit estrogen and progestin into the bloodstream, preventing eggs from being released into the uterus. In a way, this tricks the body into thinking it's pregnant, as pregnancy is the natural condition in which eggs stop being released. Therefore, you may experience an increase in appetite after beginning hormonal birth control, and you may be eating more without realizing it. Be aware of this and try to keep your eating habits as close to your usual as possible. Eat fruits and low-fat snacks when you get those sweet and salty cravings. You may also experience increased fluid retention, which can make you feel bloated and cause the illusion of having gained weight, even if the numbers on the scale don't change.

Low-Hormone Options

• If you do experience weight gain and are sure it's not due to your lifestyle (eating habits or exercise), try switching to a different product. Some pills, such as the "mini pill," have a lower dose of hormones. If you're interested in long-term birth control, an intrauterine device (IUD) might be a good option for you; there are both hormonal and non-hormonal IUDs available. In any case, you should see your doctor for advice. Every woman is different, and there may be underlying hormonal issues causing your weight gain. There just isn't enough scientific evidence to know for sure which birth control products will or won't cause weight gain.