Does Birth Control Cause Weight Gain?

There has been a lasting debate that birth control causes weight gain in women. But, researchers claim that there is no real connection. The results show no direct link between using hormonal birth control and weight gain. Meanwhile, women are opposing this.

It is common to hear women complain about weight gain after going on birth control with little or no change in their eating patterns. Hormonal birth control releases powerful synthetic hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in constant doses, which suppresses ovulation and causes changes in the mucus of the cervix and the lining of the uterus.

There are a few things to note when choosing the right birth control for you.

Types of birth control

The Pill, the Patch, and the Ring

These three contain both an estrogen and progestin hormone. Studies claim that the pill does not cause weight gain, yet concern about weight gain is the main reason why women quit taking it. The ring and the patch are like the pill in terms of their ingredients and dose.

IUDs

There are two kinds of IUDs. One kind, Mirena and Kyleena, releases a low dose of progestin hormone. The other, ParaGard or the Cooper T, has no hormones. IUDs mainly work inside the uterus, having minimal effects on the rest of the body. Studies show no difference in weight changes between women using hormonal IUDs and women using birth control without hormones.

The implant

Studies showed that about five percent of women using the implant got them removed due to concerns about weight gain. However, the weight changes don’t appear to be different between women using the implant and women using birth control without hormones.

culled from The Guardian. Read the rest here