islandsurfer Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 Over the last year and a half my gf has put on a lot of weight. I am pretty sure some of this weight was due to the birth control pill. She was gaining slowly due to over eating and lack of excersise mostly in her thighs and butt, her stomach got soft but she didn't get a gut. She went on the pill and in a little over a month had a sharp increase in her weight and suddenly had a noticible gut. Over the last year she continued to gain weight, but i would blame this on overating, not the pill. She has been off the pill for almost 2 months now (she ran out and it has taken her awhile to get more). When she goes back on the pill will she experience the weight gain again or since she has been on the pill before, does she not experience any of the side effects a second time. Link to post Share on other sites
lilmoma1973 Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 The pill has many side effects and weight gain can be one as well!! I hope you are using some other method while she been off of it .. Good luck Link to post Share on other sites
Candied-Heart Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 When she goes back on the pill will she experience the weight gain again or since she has been on the pill I think that the weight gain is primarily due to her not being able to resist the cravings that are part of the side effects to the pill. Not the pills fault as such, it's your GFs. So she might gain more weight once on it. Time will tell. Link to post Share on other sites
Author islandsurfer Posted January 16, 2006 Author Share Posted January 16, 2006 From looking up info on the web, its seems a common knowledge that going on the pill can make u gain weight. She used to blame alot of her weight gain on the pill, but now i think she ackowledges that her lifestyle is more of the cause. However when she first went on the pill she had a quick weight gain in a month, mostly in her stomach. I think she is right to blame 10- 15 on the pill. She wants to try to lose weight. She has said this before but never has done anything to try to lose weight. This time for christmas she asked her parents for money to get a membership at our colleges gym(we are both college juniors) and i told her i would get one too. I'm just afraid that when she goes back on the pill if she experiences a quick gain in weight it will discourage her from trying to lose weight. I was hoping that since she was already on the pill once she wouldn't get the side effect again, but since looking up information on it in the internet it seems she is likely to gain. Also in the last year and a half her weight has only slowly gone up. Link to post Share on other sites
Candied-Heart Posted January 16, 2006 Share Posted January 16, 2006 The Pill does not just deposit fat into your body simply because you take it. The reason she has gotten bigger is because she is taking a hormone which is increasing her appetite, the only 'fat' that can be solely the pill's fault is the increase in breast tissue which is because of the two [or one if that's what she's taking] hormones and the amount. I'm just afraid that when she goes back on the pill if she experiences a quick gain in weight it will discourage her from trying to lose weight. If anything it should encourage her to continue to lose weight in the event that she does eat more than she should be. Link to post Share on other sites
FoolishDriver Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 The Pill does not just deposit fat into your body simply because you take it. The reason she has gotten bigger is because she is taking a hormone which is increasing her appetite, the only 'fat' that can be solely the pill's fault is the increase in breast tissue which is because of the two [or one if that's what she's taking] hormones and the amount. If anything it should encourage her to continue to lose weight in the event that she does eat more than she should be. Excuse me that is a naive post. I would bet that you are not on BC pills. The only fault of the pills is increase in breast tissue? Excuse me but you yourself said that it increases appetite, so naturally she eats more and I think it can be said that that is the pill's fault, unless it's a mysterious chemical in the air that is increasing her appetite. I have gained over 30 pounds since starting the pill. After gaining almost 20 in 2 months, I paniced and stopped taking it. I lost about 10 pounds and thought I had more "control." But as soon as I started taking it, the weight kept adding on. The feeling is terrible. It's like if you are feeling very thirsty, you just have to have something to drink. The pill makes you feel hungry even after eating a lot, and you just keep eating. A side-effect is enlargement of the breast (doesn't increase breast tissue! You have a fixed amount of tissue, just like your height is fixed. But by gaining weight, part of the fat gets stored in the breast. When I lose weight, my breast shrinks too, not the tissue itself.). Exercising will help to stablize her weight. I was discouraged at first from all the weight gain, but I finally got myself to exercise again. I am still bigger than I was before, but I tell myself I would be even bigger if I don't exercise. Also, I used to have as striking hourglass figure, and now it's like I'm more of a square and my waist isn't hourglass anymore! I don't know what happened! I hate the pill but I'll suffer instead of getting pregnant. It also gives me mood swings. I hate that they come in the same dosage whether you weight 100 pounds or 200 pounds so a small person like me gets a heavier dosage compared to a larger woman and it makes me very moody on top of increasing my appetite. Lately I have been wondering if I should cut the pills and take smaller dosages. My doctor is a snob and difficult to talk to so I could never discuss anything like this, always in a hurry, acts too important and brushes off all my questions like it's too time consuming and unimportant. I've always been a disciplined eater so it wears on me the struggle I go through resisting food, eventually giving in, the weight gain. If anyone has advice on how to make it a better experience, I am all ears. Link to post Share on other sites
Candied-Heart Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 No. I think you've misunderstood my distinction between the two. I said the pill is indirectly involved in increasing your weight, though it's by your own fault in deciding to adhere to your cravings which have been induced by this "mysterious chemical in the air".. What I was trying to say, which I thought was quite obvious, was that the pill does not increase your weight by itself. It may seem a petty thing to mention, but it may be brought on by the pill, it is YOU that causes yourself to put on the extra weight whilst on the pill due to not watching what kinds of things you are eating and how often. I would bet that you are not on BC pills. I will see that bet. I know this because I have started the pill in recent weeks and beforehand, being very weight and size conscious due to my career of choice, I was very articulate in explaining to my female GP that I was wary of the myth I was preached re: weight gain on the pill by other women. She then informed me what I was explaining above. So far I've lost weight.. Go figure. Re: breast increase. My breasts have grown considerably since going on the pill and this has only been a couple weeks. This is different to weight gain on your body, I was instructed, because of having to do, apparently, with the hormomes involved in heightening your temperature for the pill to work correctly, which are directly involved in the reproductive organs, and aligned with this, the breasts. Anyway; I didn't mean to spark debate, I guess everyone's just taught conflicting facts and experienced different things as you can see from my side effects and yours. As yet I have only experienced a little nausea and much larger breasts. Link to post Share on other sites
WoWaddict Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Ive known people on the pill that have gained no weight, and people that have gained 20 pounds. The pill makes you gain water weight. However, lack of exercise and overeating can account for some of it. But whoever said that birth control doesnt cause weight gain knows absolutely nothing. Weight gain is the number one side effect of any method, and is the first thing the doctor will mention Link to post Share on other sites
Candied-Heart Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 But whoever said that birth control doesnt cause weight gain knows absolutely nothing. Omg... It doesn't. It gives you the cravings. You are the one who causes the weight gain by eating whenever these cravings hit. It's not a hard thing to simplify.. Link to post Share on other sites
FoolishDriver Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Omg... It doesn't. It gives you the cravings. You are the one who causes the weight gain by eating whenever these cravings hit. It's not a hard thing to simplify.. What you are saying, that the pill isn't the cause of the weight gain, the cravings it causes is, is so wrong! Let ME simplify - what you are saying would be like saying the poison arsenic doesn't actually cause death. It can cause kidney and heart failure and that is the real cause of death. Not the poison itself! That makes no sense, just like saying the pill isn't the cause of the weight gain but the craving it causes. What caused the craving, hence the weight gain? The pill did. What caused death? The arsenic poison did, not its side effects which were part of the onset of the end result. The craving is one step in the weight gain, due to the pill. Birth control causes weight gain. omg is right because that's what it does. To fight the cravings it causes would be like to fight going to the bathroom. Eventually you give in otherwise you'd end up peeing in your pants so basicly you have no control over it. It is the pill causing the weight gain. Comprendo? Link to post Share on other sites
Candied-Heart Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 Gosh, FoolishDriver, your bitterness re: this thread has even moved to other threads. The craving is one step in the weight gain, due to the pill. I wasn't arguing this fact. Assuming you mean the pill caused the cravings, not the weight problem. What you are saying, that the pill isn't the cause of the weight gain, the cravings it causes is, is so wrong! I believe I said in more defined terms: The BC Pill >> Cravings >> Eating Excessively or consuming more 'bad' foods >> Weight Gain. Now, to me, and most people, The pill's responsibility for this problem ceases right after Cravings. Because it is a persons choice to eat like a pig. How hard is that to accept? You, having been personally affected by cravings and little willpower, of course, have bitterness and denial attached to this argument. So of course you're going to say that it's "all the pills responsibility/fault". It's not like it has you hostage. Of course it's hard to ignore cravings, I've had them when I'm PMSing, I've had them just because I felt like something fried and salty. However - It's not impossible to ignore them at least most of the time, busying yourself with other activities or to eat like a celery stick or three and soon enough you don't want the bad stuff that badly. My statement was illustrating that the person itself, if bears enough self control and determination, will limit the gain of said weight. I think that's a fair statement. It's so annoying when weak women use their BC as an excuse for their moodiness or for being fat. A pill cannot solely cause such a weight gain like magic just because of the hormones, it needs an action, like overreating [!] to cause this, and that's where you come in. But blame it on the BC. Please! perpetuate the general consensus of men worldwide that we all blame our moods on either our periods or our Pill PS.. LOL @ comparing limiting the intake of excessive foods [ a 'want' ] with bowel movements [ a 'need' ] People that are lazy and weak will adhere to every craving and eventually gain the weight, the pill set off the cravings yes, but the person following the cravings has caused the bigger problems re: their weight and seems to have a problem with controlled eating if they can't say no at least once to realize: it's not the pill if they can say no on most occasions. Link to post Share on other sites
jen_jen_heartbroken Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 See if your girlfriend can go on the NuvaRing instead of the traditional BC pill. It has a much, much lower dose of the hormones which can affect weight gain, because it doesn't need to enter the bloodstream the same way the pill does. Yet, it's even more effective than the pill because there's no chance of missed or late pills. I'm a huge promoter of the NuvaRing....best thing since sliced bread! Link to post Share on other sites
Author islandsurfer Posted January 17, 2006 Author Share Posted January 17, 2006 I'm sorry, i didn't mean for my post to become a battleground about the weight gain effect of birth control. By no means can by bf blame her weight gain on birth control alone, there are other factors that i have asked for advice with in earlier posts of mine. They are long and tiresome and i am not going to bring them up again. The bottom line is that my gf has gained the weight. Before going on the pill her stomach was soft, but not a gut yet, using foolishdrivers lingo my gf had an hour glass figure. After going on the pill she quickly gained weight and suddenly had a gut. Whether the weight gain was from cravings or some other effect from the pill her gain was to quick and obvious not to be linked to the pill. So its seems that since my gf has little self control and has only gained in the last year and a half, when going back on the pill it is inevitable she will gain weight again. Thank you all again for your input and once again i am sorry my post became a battle field. Link to post Share on other sites
FoolishDriver Posted January 17, 2006 Share Posted January 17, 2006 It's so annoying when weak women use their BC as an excuse for their moodiness or for being fat. A pill cannot solely cause such a weight gain like magic just because of the hormones What's so annoying is that you think it's just an excuse when it is the truth of the matter that the pill causes my (and millions of other women's) moodiness and fat gain. Yes it can soley cause weight gain. PS.. LOL @ comparing limiting the intake of excessive foods [ a 'want' ] with bowel movements [ a 'need' ] People that are lazy and weak will adhere to every craving and eventually gain the weight, the pill set off the cravings yes, but the person following the cravings has caused the bigger problems re: their weight and seems to have a problem with controlled eating if they can't say no at least once to realize: it's not the pill if they can say no on most occasions. Since you think that's so funny, I have a different analogy to help get the point across better for you. When a mosquito bites and the person itches, does it have anything to do with having little discipline or self-control if the person HAS to itch? An outside chemical is injected by the mosquito causing the itch, just like a hormone is introduced to the body by the pill. Just as the mosquito bite causes the UNCONTROLLABLE itching, the pill causes the uncontrollable eating and equals to pill=weight gain. So its seems that since my gf has little self control and has only gained in the last year and a half, when going back on the pill it is inevitable she will gain weight again Again, the weight gain has nothing to do with self control. I have a lot of self control, but the birth "control" pill voids out that control and takes it away from me and the same with your girlfriend. I want to have the control back, but the hormones are impossible to fight against, causing cravings that can only be given into. Link to post Share on other sites
Candied-Heart Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Just as the mosquito bite causes the UNCONTROLLABLE itching, the pill causes the uncontrollable eating and equals to pill=weight gain. That's pathetic. Uncontrollable eating? That is an excuse. I am sure that if any pill brought on such a reaction with your body, such as UNCONTROLLABLE EATING [lol] if not legally.. your doctor would be heavily reminding you of it's impact and there would be some warning of such a dangerous side effect along with it's contents.. But I think I recall this always reading on packaging as a mild 'side effect' which usually only means a couple of pounds [probably because most people can not give in every time and probably have a 'bad food day' every couple of weeks, therefore they only allow for a small weight gain] There are plenty of beautifully smart women out there who can avoid extra snacking, fulfiling pesky cravings and eating junk. You're having difficulty fighting this.. Hence your reason to be so defensive regarding something that really isn't supposed to be attacking or personal. You are cutting corners by saying the pill causes weight gain. As I've said before. I don't care anymore to explain again.. as your own stubborness regarding your excuses as to why you've gained so much and are so cranky overrule an outsiders words because you've taught yourself to believe absolute crap because it helps you feel better about being lazy. Cognitive Dissonance. That is my belief among many, and one day if you can resist the cravings to actually realize that they are never THAT uncontrollable and it's effect is due to your excuse ridden mind. Think positively and stay away from the food for once. It really isn't that hard. Link to post Share on other sites
jen_jen_heartbroken Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 When I used to be on the regular pill I gained weight despite the fact that I wasn't eating any differently. It does affect everyone differently, and I wish people weren't so judgmental. If it were up to men to take a birth control pill, I doubt that weight gain would be such an issue. This is one reason I ditched the traditional pill for the NuvaRing. Months later my weight returned to what it was. Link to post Share on other sites
FoolishDriver Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 This is one reason I ditched the traditional pill for the NuvaRing. Months later my weight returned to what it was. Maybe I should look into the NuvaRing. The regular pill is making me miserable with the mood swings and weight gain. Does the NuvaRing cause breasts to enlarge too? At least that's one good thing about the pill, but at this point not worth all the fat and moodiness, drowsiness and nausea. Link to post Share on other sites
jen_jen_heartbroken Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I don't really have any side-effects from the ring, but everyone is different. Check out their website...full of good info. Link to post Share on other sites
FoolishDriver Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I don't really have any side-effects from the ring, but everyone is different. Check out their website...full of good info. I did check out their website (thanks) and here is the list of side-effects, similar to the ones listed for regular BC pills: From http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/patientSupport/sideEffectsSymptons/index.asp Side effects & symptoms The common side effects reported by NuvaRing® users are: Vaginal infections and irritation Vaginal discharge (leukorrhea) Headache Upper respiratory tract infection Sinusitis Weight gain Nausea In addition to the risks and side effects listed above, users of combination hormonal contraceptives have reported the following side effects: Vomiting Change in appetite Abdominal cramps and bloating Breast tenderness or enlargement Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting Changes in menstrual cycle Temporary infertility after treatment Fluid retention (edema) Spotty darkening of the skin, particularly on the face Rash Weight changes Depression Intolerance to contact lenses Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the symptoms listed below. They may be signs of a serious problem: Sharp chest pain, coughing blood, or sudden shortness of breath (possible clot in the lung) Pain in the calf (back of lower leg; possible clot in the leg) Crushing chest pain or heaviness in the chest (possible heart attack) Sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, problems with vision or speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (possible stroke) Sudden partial or complete loss of vision (possible clot in the eye) Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), especially with fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark colored urine, or light colored bowel movements (possible liver problems) Severe pain, swelling, or tenderness in the abdomen (gallbladder or liver problems) Sudden fever (usually 102°F or more), vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, fainting, or a sunburn-like rash on the face or body (very rarely, toxic shock syndrome) Breast lumps (possible breast cancer or benign breast disease) Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting that happens in more than one menstrual cycle or lasts for more than a few days Swelling (edema) of your fingers or ankles Difficulty in sleeping, weakness, lack of energy, fatigue, or a change in mood (possible severe depression) Of the list, I have been experiencing: headache, nausea, weight gain (A LOT. I'm at the heaviest I've been in my life, all in a few months time), change in appetite, fluid retention, abdominal cramps and bloating, depression, intolerence to contact lenses, change in menstrual cycle (big time), breast tenderness and enlargement, sudden severe headache and dizzying, problems with vision and to a small extent speach sometimes - get all tongue tyed, severe sudden pain of abdomen, difficulty in sleeping, weakness, fatigue (I have to sleep 12 hours and still feel tired after I wake up), lack of energy, change in mood, dark colored urine (looks like beer sometimes), shortness of breath (a few minutes after I take the pill each time it's like I have to gasp for air), sunburn-like rash on the face (my cheeks have turned so red that I've been wearing sunscreen when it's winter, didn't know it might have to do with the pill), a lot of tingling in the legs if my legs are crossed for a short period of time. I started taking the pill about 4 months ago. It has been hell. But the ring is listing the same sideo-effects. I guess the difference is that you don't have to worry about taking the pill each day with the ring. Link to post Share on other sites
jen_jen_heartbroken Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 Keep in mind that they have to list every possible side-effect to cover their behinds in case they were to get sued for not listing one. I can only tell you from my personal experience, and those of my friends who have switched, is that the side-effects are minimal to non-existent, which is why my doc recommended it in the first place. Link to post Share on other sites
jen_jen_heartbroken Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 I should also add that, while I'm no doctor, the list of things you are experiencing are far from the norm and may indicate a more serious health concern. I hope that you will see your doc right away to find out what is going on. Link to post Share on other sites
FoolishDriver Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 It's been helpful discussing this with you Jen. I am realizing myself that all the side-effects might in fact not be so normal. I don't think most people are as miserable as I have been. I am definitely going to see my doctor (as much as it's intimidating for me to), go over the symptoms and suggest I try the ring instead. Thanks so much. Link to post Share on other sites
jen_jen_heartbroken Posted January 18, 2006 Share Posted January 18, 2006 You're welcome. Good luck at the doc! (and don't be intimidated -- they're paid the big bucks to make sure you're well taken care of) Link to post Share on other sites
JeT'Aime Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 I'm actually on the pill. and the side effects are clearly stated: the weight gain you experience is mostly water retention. if she starts exercising, she will quickly loose around 10 pounds. atleast that is what happened to me. but i wouldn't blame any more than 10 pounds of weight gain on the pill. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted February 10, 2006 Share Posted February 10, 2006 Hi, I just started nuvaring 2 days ago and I have gained 5 pounds ... and my breats went from a full D to a full DD, I had to run out and buy some new bras this am because my cup runth over. I actually have no appetite and I am incredibly thirsty, so hopefully it's just water weight. While on the pill I gained 20 lbs, 10 alone in the first month, and I am an avid dancer(work out at least 5 days a week for 3 hours with 30 min high intensity), I was hardly eating at all. After stopping the pill the weight quickly came off. Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts