Ok this is a little strange a question but hey, here goes!

Plenty of people say that the pill is not effective in women with a bmi over 27.5 but having read various bits and bobs there seems to be no other option mentioned apart from condoms or a more permanent solution such as sterilisation.

One of the reasons I want to lose weight is to go on the pill (or another method) and I would be too worried to take it if there was any more risk. So what are people's experiences of contraceptives and being overweight?

Thanks

I had not heard of this research, so I did a little digging. The studies I found were not tightly controlled enough to determine anything more than a correlation exists. Based on these studies, there could be a lot of reasons for the results - which were all based on self-reporting. Were the heavier women less likely to admit missing pills? Were they more likely to have been on antibiotics or taking other meds that reduce the effectiveness of birth control?

I would talk to your doctor about his experience with overweight women on the pill. Women who are very heavy also often have greater difficulty conceiving than thinner women, so do these facts "cancel each other out."

I've been on the pill since my early twenties - though for most of that time, not because I needed a contraceptive, but because I needed PMS/painful period relief. My husband and I do occasionally use backup methods of BC because I've periodically had to be on medications that can reduce the effectiveness of the pill.

I've never smoked, which seems to be the riskiest factor in birth control side effects. And for me, the benefits have far outweighed the risks.

Thanks for your reply. If I could get hold of my doctor I would talk to him but he isnt the easiest guy to get hold of

My understanding is that the dosage gets trickier as your bmi goes up, because you need higher doses to keep from ovulating, but the risks of high doses also go up (especially if combined with smoking or a history of vascular problems). I've certainly known plenty of people on the pill with a bmi over 27.5, and it is still a whole lot better than the withdrawl, rhythm or hope methods. I'd say combine a lower-dose pill (or progestin-only pill) with condoms if you're worried.

As for me, I'm one of the lucky ones who is on depo and has never had any problems with the stuff...and no one has ever cautioned me about being too heavy, or making sure I don't gain anymore weight.

Never had a problem - been on the pill since I was 15, and through my highest weight, and it still works now. I don't even know what my BMI is at the moment, but higher than 25...

I was overweight when I went on the pill, and a year later, I was 40 pounds heavier than I started. For whatever reason, I just could not stop gaining while on the pill - despite diet and exercise.

I've found the best birth control method for me is charting my temperatures (along with some other signs).

I too am on the pill. Up until the other night I have always used other methods of BC too.
I've met sombody new, and things happened, and before I knew it we had gone all the way without protection. He seemed more worried than I did, obviously not knowing I was on the pill. Lets hope it works as it is supposed to.

hi, could i be cheeky and ask what contraceptive pill any of you guys are currently on? My doc has given me the mini pill as he said it is better for someone larger than the combined one. Am on a one called cerazette and a side effect is given me some grief (irregular bleeding) and am going to get him to change it. Just wondered if anyone else was on a mini pill.

Soz if its a bit personal, i don't have anyone else to really talk about this kind of thing.