Hey ladies, I just started the pill yesterday. I've never been on it before but have heard that it can cause some people to gain weight. I'm taking Ortho-tri-cyclin.

I was just wondering if people gain weight because their appetites change or if the pill actually does something to make your body hold onto the fat? Cause if it's just the appetite change I can manage that. I realize I should have asked the doctor at the time, but completely forgot about it until I left the office...

I was on Ortho-Tri-Cyclin years ago and I did gain weight, but I can't say if that was from a behavior change or the pill. I was recently on Loestrin and I did NOT gain weight, but I don't know if I was more aware or what.

The pill can cause some people to gain weight through extra water retention or change in appetite. The pill is causing your body to think you're pregnant, so there are hormones that are released that could make you hungrier, etc. But if you're aware and are looking for it, you might be able to combat these things.

Oh, Ortho also made my boobs bigger - that definately accounted for some of the weight gain.

I haven't been on Ortho in years, but I was on Seasonique for the last 8 months, and even though I was doing everything right (diet and exercise) I was still gaining weight. It was terribly frustrating. My body did acclimate to it eventually tho, and I shed what I had gained.

I am very sensitive to side effects of BCP though. I just said enough is enough with Seasonique 5 days ago and stopped taking it, and I feel AMAZING.

I was on Ortho-tri-cyclin once and only once, I remember I basically became a pyscho-hose-beast, crazy mood swings and put on weight etc. etc. Each pill affects everyone differently and I have talked to my doctor many times about this. Basically if you do put on weight or have mood swings, just tell your doctor and he/she can put you on a different one. I took me about 5 different pills before I found something that didn't affect me in a negative way.

I was on ortho-tri-cyclen for a few years, and I gained weight. It's always hard to tell if it's because of the medicine or because you aren't paying attention. Right now I'm on Depo-provera, but once this dose wears off I'm done with hormonal birth control. I can't seem to lose weight when I'm on them.

Depo is the only BC I've ever used. Got started years ago in college and while I've been on and off of it a few times, I love the advantages too much to try anything else. I've never had any of the bad side effects many people complain about.

I've gained weight on Depo (while going overboard on eating), and I've lost weight on Depo (while on Weight Watchers). It doesn't seem to affect me in that regard. YMMV

Hmmm, I wouldn't mind bigger boobs as long as they weren't accompanied by a bigger belly =). I was going to say that I've been super hungry today (day 2) and I'm normally not. But then I realized it was 2:30 and I haven't had lunch yet (one of those days at work).

I was on ortho-tri-cyclin for about a year and I never noticed any side effects whatsoever but a couple friends did experience minimal weight gain which they figured was cause by the pill *shrug*

I am on Nuvaring now and it hasn't bothered my weight loss in the slightest, so yeah maybe I'm just lucky in that aspect.

When I went on my BCP my doctor told me that some people gain weight on the pill and others lose it, because of changes in appetite and the amount that you are eating. He also said that if my eating habits dont change, then the pill wouldnt affect my weight. So i tend to believe that the pill itself doesnt cause your body to hold onto fat or anything like that, it just affects peoples appetites differently

I've been on Yaz for a few years now and recently had a routine blood test done to review my levels as in my cholesterol, triglycerides, thyroid, ect, ect because I was having issues losing weight following a strict diet. Well about a week later my family doctor calls me and tells me my blood test came out great and everything except my thyroid levels are off a bit. So after speaking with my family doctor, she suggested I get an ultrasound on my thyroid. After having the ultrasound they discovered a few nodules and later suggested I see an Endocrinologist. When visiting the Endocrinologist he told me my levels were off due to the hormones in the birth control I've been taking and the nodules are completely unrelated to my levels being off but all in all, he attributed my weight issues with the birth control pills. Anywho to make a long story short, I have an appointment next monday (with the gyno) and I'm going to ask him what to do and perhaps switch to a different pill.