I have had zero problems losing weight on birth control. I've even gone off of it for months at a time and experienced no weight gain when I went back on.
Now, I've always been overweight but I entered into obese territory after the NuvaRing completely screwed me up. I LOVED it but my body did not love it. Absolutely wild appetite, I was ravenous all of the time no matter when/what/how much I ate. Absolutely wild mood swings, and I started getting paranoid, I thought my boyfriend was cheating on me, I thought my friends secretly hated me, started thinking everyone was against me, etc. That's just not me. Only time in my life I've ever been paranoid. And it all went away about 3 weeks after I switch birth control.
I have previously been on Depo, I hated, but not because it made me gain weight, it didn't. I had irregularity issues. But the very first time I was put on any form of birth control about 13 years again, I did gain a ton of weight. I went from about 137 lbs (granted I'd bike a lot that summer to lose 10 lbs and didn't keep up with exercise) to 170 lbs in about 8 months. If this is your first time on birth control maybe its a combination of adjusting to the new hormones and "new love" eating habits. Keep trying, it is not impossible to lose weight while on birth control. Many women do. I am one of them and you will be too.
I have stage four endometriosis (if you don't know what it is, google it). At 23 I was told I needed a hysterectomy as soon as I was done having kids, which I wasn't. That was seven years ago, and since that time, I have had several surgeries, a pregnancy, and now just weaned my daughter one month ago.
For my health's sake, I am not able to be free from hormones. I must be on birth control at the bare minimum to prevent further growth.
During my treatments and various rounds of various birth control pills and shots, this is my experience.
Seasonique is HANDS DOWN the best birth control I have ever used! It is a three month dose of pills, with one placebo week, so you have one period every three months. (yes this is healthy) I have lost weight on Seasonique both before my pregnancy and now. I do not feel any hormonal effects whatsoever.
Depo is the devil. Now I'm not here to contradict people who say you can lose weight on it, just resist temptations, etc. Because of course, the shot, in and of itself, cannot make you gain weight.
HOWEVER... please do not underestimate the power of hormones.
I got the Depo shot when I was in college and did gain a few pounds. Maybe the freshman fifteen. Who knows. I felt awful and it did cause some depression for me.
But the power of hormones became very clear to me when I was put on a different hormone to agressively treat my endo after I was diagnosed. It basically put my body into "fake menopause". Let me tell ya. Not only did I become violently addicted to Chick Fil A cookies and cream milkshakes at 750 calories a pop, but I basically felt like killing everyone I met. I was pissed and weepy and getting fatter by the day.
I finally told my dr to take me off. Those pills made me crazy, and I don't just throw that word around.
My point is that if YOU feel that the hormones are hindering you, then YOU need to make a change. There are definitely better options, less potent birth controls. You should also consider that your feelings may be partly depression caused by the Depo rather than normal feelings of frustration over your weight. Only you can decide that.
I just want to affirm your feelings and say that YES, for me at least, hormones are a HUGE deal. Good luck!
Mrslynah: I don't really have serious cravings or a big appetite. I mean, I crave sometimes, but it's not so bad that I can't handle it. As far as mood I don't know if it's the Depo or not. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression before I went on Depo and I feel like I'm about the same.
I think I'm going to ask for seasonique. I'll see what my gyn says.
I am on the pill for PCOS and have found that it has had no effect on my weight loss. I've been on both ortho-trycyclen lo and alesse.
What does your mother have against IUDs and Nuvaring? And why is she allowed to dictate your birth control choices? This is probably the weirdest part to me Nuvaring and the mirena iud use much lower doses of hormones than most pill or the depo shot and have been proven much safer for people at risk of complications due to hormonal birth control. Perhaps you should discuss your options with your mother if she would let you get depo why not any other hormonal birth control? It just makes no sense.
But the power of hormones became very clear to me when I was put on a different hormone to agressively treat my endo after I was diagnosed. It basically put my body into "fake menopause". Let me tell ya. Not only did I become violently addicted to Chick Fil A cookies and cream milkshakes at 750 calories a pop, but I basically felt like killing everyone I met. I was pissed and weepy and getting fatter by the day. I finally told my dr to take me off. Those pills made me crazy, and I don't just throw that word around.
Wow, that's quite the experience. Thanks for sharing.
You need to definitely try a few different types before you find one that works for you the best.
I've tried:
Ortho Tri Cyclen (gained weight - 7 pounds, and was very emotional),
NuvaRing (lost weight easily, but I was able to feel it during intercourse),
The Patch (lost weight easily, made me breakout)
.....aaand now finally I'm on Alesse. No side effects thus far (bad or good)
Last edited by summerlove; 06-07-2012 at 11:32 PM.
Are you under 18? Why are you letting your mother dictate your birth control choices? It doesn't matter if you're on her insurance. You get to make decisions about your own body. It's none of her business.
That said. Hormonal birth control turns me into a 24/7 monster biatch eat machine. The only thing that has ever worked for me was Mirena... and then my husband got the big V. That works REALLY nicely!
Bottom line. Your birth control choice is between you and your doctor... don't let your mom dictate your health.
