I recently stopped the PILL (Jan 9, 2008) I am fairly sure it was contributing to my inability to shed pounds, but I am not too thrilled about alternative BC methods. This one was pretty much a no-brainer if I took my pill every day.

I have been on the PILL since 1986, stopped in 2002 and dropped 75 lbs, then went back on again in October 2005 for female issues (endometriosis) when I couldn't stand being off it any more. I steadily gained back about 45 lbs over the next 2 years as soon as I went back to taking the pill.

I am now married, not quite ready for kids (in the next 6 months anyway) but definitely ready for weight loss. I am worried about getting PG at this weight.

Any one else successfully lose by going off the pill?

i have heard only that the pill can cause a 10ish lb weight gain, never heard anything about stopping the pill and loosing weight.
I have never been on the pill, but use condoms and they work perfect for us. I have always used condoms so I am used to it. It took my bf a while to get used to it, but it has always worked for me, and much cleaner too! LOL!

From what I understand, the pill from the 60s caused weight gain, but it was reformulated and is not responsible for weight gain other than a few pounds of water weight as vixjean mentioned. There have been over 40 studies which showed no effect. You might ask your doctor to give you a good exam and find out if you have any other health issues that need to be addressed. Do you have any symptoms of PCOS?

try a different pill - some can actually cause you to lose some weight.
i lost 20lbs the first month i was on yasmin. i'm not on it now (can't afford it with no insurance, and it's not offered at PP so i can't get it at a discount)
but i am on orthocept (i think!) and while being on the pill definitely makes it harder for me to lose, it's not a huge obstacle. i've found that taking a multi made for women tends to even out any of the bad side effects that taking the pill has for me - evil mood swings, water retention, and a sour stomach are my biggest problems.
i am NOT a doctor but go SEE yours and discuss your concerns they might be able to reccommend something that works a little better for you,, i've heard of people having massive weight gain on the shot (the majority of my friends who have done it have gained 30+ pounds) but i also have a friend who is very heavy and she got an IUD and even though she's always had a hard time losing weight, it's coming easier for her now that she's off the pill and on the iud..

I honestly believe we take the pill too easily without weighing the pros & cons. I tried multiple pills trying to find the right one & found all it ended up doing is messing up my body more & more. Although studies do not find that the pill "causes weight gain" that's a general statement. That doesn't show the 1% (or whatever) that does have weight gain with the change in their hormones.

Thanks ladies--good thoughts. I think this MAY be a hormones out of whack issue that might be unique to me. I am going to try and find a doc that will work with me on testing my theory.

Definitely a good idea to follow up with a doc. The pill theoretically only causes some water retention and doesn't actually hinder weight loss, but everyone's body is different, so it's not impossible that it's hindering you!

I was going to suggest other birth control alternatives that would still help with endo, but it seems from your comment that you may want to get pregnant soon, and the alternatives I was going to suggest (Mirena IUS -- which I use -- and Implanon) are much more long-term solutions, so it may just be a matter of finding the right pill for your body.

Regardless, good luck!!

I know exactly where you're coming from, I was on the combined pill for several years because of very bad periods, at that time I did everything I could to lose weight but couldn't shift a pound. Eventually I came off the pill and the pounds began to fall off slowly, even though I was doing exactly the same as before. I went back on the pill in 2007 for a month or so, and during that time couldn't lose anything, so soon as I came off it I lost weight again. Hubby and I use condoms now, but we're in the situation that if I got pregnant it wouldn't be a disaster. My doctor did try me on the mini pill but it didn't suit me so I couldn't tell you if that one is any better.

What a timely discussion! I have been on Orthotri-cyclen (sp?) for 2 1/2 years and I believe it makes me retain ~5+ lbs. of water weight, and possibly makes it hard for me lose weight. I got down to my desired weight (see my signature below to see S/G/C weight) when I was not on any hormonal birth control. For the first year on the pill I noticed some major water weight fluctuations, but managed to keep the weight off, but the weight crept up a bit after that. I have been trying so hard to take it off but am having no success, despite carefully monitoring my food and exercise. Having spent so many years now eating healthily and exercising, I don't think I'm in denial about how much I could be eating, etc. And I'm only 25, so I don't think it would be my metabolism slowing yet as I've often read it does in your late 20's.

The thing about the pill is, during my placebo week, I lose ~3-4 few pounds every time. I start taking my new round of pills Sunday night, and literally, within the next 2 days, I will regain all that I lost in the past week, no matter how well I eat, and how much exercise I do. Aren't you supposed to retain water/gain weight the week you have your period??? Unfortunately I didn't pay much attention to my water retention during TOM before I went on BC. I know I never had this layer of....flub...on me, that I have now, not when I was eating as healthily as I do.

I have researched IUDs and other forms of BC and I am going to discuss this with my obgyn at my appt. in a few weeks. I am somewhat reluctant to switch from orthotricyclen b/c besides this water weight I have had few side effects (no mood swings or breakthroughs), but I am going to ask to switch to Yasmin. After all my research I decided I like the pill option best, better than the idea of an IUD, and Yasmin was by far the pill that the most people said didn't cause water weight gain.

I'm curious to hear about the experience of others!

I had the same problem as you my deary. If you are pron to battling weight, there are A LOT of BC pills out there that AREN'T for you. I was on the depo shot, which is only suppose to cause a 5 lb. weight gain, but those women who have trouble keeping their weight down anyways, can gain up to 80lbs. and that's per my doctor. I am not on any BC now and I am beginning to lose the weight now. There are many different kinds of BC out there. I am going to be using spermicides.

I was on the patch when I lost 35pounds the first time. I'm having concerns, too-- because I've been off bc, but I'm too paranoid about getting pregnant to stay off it! I'm going onto Femcon FE on my "sunday start". I was doing the FAM (fertility awareness method) and using condoms, which worked fine there's a website called fertility friend that helps you track your temps (bbt) and "discharge" (tmi, I know..). But it's a really good site!

Good luck!
~Kat

What I find about the pill is it increases appetite rather than directly causing weight gain...well it seems to be that way with me.

I am on the pill and myself and my D/H will be ttc maybe next year but I want to lose weight first and be healthy and energetic for a newborn so I dare not come off the pill at the moment, I don't want to get pregnant at this weight.

Good luck losing X x

I'm single but I take my birth control daily without fail! (Just in case)!!! I have read lots and it says that BC can cause a 10lb gain and anything other than that is "your own doing". But I don't think that's true of ALL people and ALL methods. I think it could make losing weight more difficult but it's worth it to me to work harder. I'm not ready for kids yet. Keep in mind that being on birth control also makes it easier to have lots of... um... fun. Which is good exercise. (Sorry, if that's considered inappropriate).

I was on Depo for a while. Not good. The progesterone made me eat, eat, eat. I went from 128 to 160 pretty fast.

I switched to Ortho Cyclen after that and it was muuuuch better.

Doing the condom thing now, because, like Crazy Helen, another pg wouldn't be a disaster for me and DH, but my weightloss doesn't seem to have changed much...

One thing I might suggest if you have stubborn weight-- go get your thyroid checked. Mine was in the tank. Getting it regulated has made all the difference.

I have used the Nuva Ring for almost 2 years now. I have not experienced any weight gain during that time. I just started trying to lose weight 2 weeks ago, and I haven't had any problems with it. The Nuva Ring is extremely lose dose compared to other options so maybe that is why I don't have any problems