Do Birth Control Pills Really Make It Harder to Lose Weight?

Updated on May 31, 2007
N.O. asks from Rowlett, TX
7 answers

Hi Moms,
After having my 2nd baby I have been finding it SO hard to lose that extra weight.
I need to lose about 15-20 lbs to be back to my normal weight and I am currently taking birth control pills.
I am wondering if the pills are making it harder for me to lose the weight.
I've also heard from some friends BC pills can make you gain weight too!
I'm very active and try my hardest to eat healthy and small portions but nothing seems to be working!
If it's true that the pill makes it harder to lose weight, is there a pill that is better to take when you're trying to lose weight??

Thanks so much in advance for any info.

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K.B.

answers from Dallas on

For the 3 years I was on birth control I gained 10 lbs each year!
My OB said, "enough" & decided the Mirena IUD would be best for me. I complained constently to my general Dr. & she just thought I was crazy that the pill was causing the extra weight gain. I've been on the Mirena for 3 yrs. now & haven't gained any extra weight.

1 mom found this helpful
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I.

answers from Dallas on

No N., Loosing weight is just hard, and after every baby it gets harder. But it has nothing to do with the pill. I've been using the pill for 8 years, and it never made my weight change. Neither my sisters or my friends.

Good luck!

I.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

I was on Yaz which is the lower hormone version of Yazmin after I had my son. It was great for weight loss, but I had horrible headaches and ended up getting an IUD and I love it. I am still loosing weight.
I would suggest talking to your OB and seeing what they have to say.

Good Luck,
J.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.F.

answers from Dallas on

Yes. I can find documentation that oral contraceptives can cause weight gain if you'd like me to look for it. I was on the pill for over 10 years. I was finding it more and more difficult to lose weight and it was making me a crabby pain in the butt and I had never had a baby. So, I went off the pill, lost over 15 lbs and then got pregnant using the FNP method. So much for weight loss!!!

Moral of the story: Don't go off the pill unless you have a reliable method of birth control for back up or you want to get pregnant again. Or don't have sex. :)

I think the mini-pill isn't as high a dosage. Talk to your GYN abou that. Personally, I chose an IUD and love it.

Good luck and keep working at losing the weight with exercise and good nutrition. That's the best way I lost the baby weight and keep it off!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

the studies I've read and heard from my doc about weight gain and the pill....the average weight gain is 5 lbs. and it's usually water weight.

When you have more than 10 lbs to lose ...you need to do more than "be active"....are you exercising at least 5 times a week/breaking a long heavy sweat...high heart rate??? And what are your calories each day? You need to write down and monitor what you're eating = calories/fat grams. [[and not do the other extreme of starving yourself because then you'll put your body in starvation mode and it'll slow down your metabolism big time.]]

Weight Watchers is great at helping you find healthy choices with great food! It's helped me so much! I've lost 50 lbs with their help and my membership to LA Fitness gym.
But healthy/low calorie eating & vigorous exercise goes hand in hand...you cannot do one without the other and expect to lose weight and keep it off. === that's just been my experience and what I've seen from others at WW meetings.
You can do it! On or off the pill.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Dallas on

It depends what pill it is you're taking. Some make you lose weight, some make you gain weight, and some make you stay the same. If you were concerned about it, try looking up the pill you're on and for side effects. I'm on Luestrin FE for my hormone levels and I HATE it. I've gained so much weight on it, but my doctor refuses to take me off of it yet, until my hormones are back in track from my cyst back in November.

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A.S.

answers from Dallas on

Yes, N., the pill WILL make you gain weight!!! And not only that, they can abort a baby if you should get pregnant. They don't always cause that, but they do often. Doctors won't tell you that but if you do your research on your own, thats what you will discover.

Hope this helps.

A. S.

1 mom found this helpful
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