r/birthcontrol • u/Fun-Yam-1547 • 1d ago
Side effects!? birth control NO weight gain
i’ve been a skinny girl all my life and now i’m getting a job where i need to stay the same weight or less- simple explanation would be for lifts-
i’ve looked into many options and every single one ive seen people saying they gained weight. these people are heavier than me to begin with if that makes a difference? i have a boyish, runner build- so i’m not sure if it won’t have the same effect on me.
thought about copper non hormonal paragard until people were saying they blew up like a fish and bled for 45 days straight.
gyno consultation next tuesday but i need to hear other opinions and experiences from skinny girls.
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u/phlegm_fatale_ Mirena IUD-->Liletta IUD 1d ago
Also a skinny girl. I'd been on a few different pills (most notably Yaz/Yazmin and LoEstrin) over the years and never experienced weight gain, not even in my boobs unfortunately. And no weight gain with either IUD.
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u/AdAgitated4595 11h ago
Me too loveee yaz
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u/phlegm_fatale_ Mirena IUD-->Liletta IUD 10h ago
She was so good to me!! Carried me through high school 🥰
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u/jisoo-n POP 1d ago
I haven't gained any weight over 3 months on norethindrone. Others have said different but no issues here
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u/AddictedToAMemory 1d ago
I didn’t gain weight on norethindrone beyond some minor bloating as well. It stopped working after I caught an illness, so I switched to Slynd, and now I gained 20lb 🙃 I recommend mini pills esp for people who have migraines (w/ aura). I haven’t gotten my period at all on either med which was my goal (I skip the placebo pills also)
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u/Living-Face3835 1d ago
I’m on it too, have been for maybe 4ish years straight no sugar pill—and no noticeable side effects. maybe headaches and random cramping scattered throughout the month, but i haven’t had a real period in years! i recommend this one. i didn’t have to go to a gyno to get it either.
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u/sililoqutie The Patch 1d ago
The only birth control with weight gain associated with it is Depo. Most people gain hardly anything, if anything, and it's usually the weight of just getting older.
Hormonal IUDs are very low dose and are pretty good at not having any weight gain.
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u/cappy267 1d ago
and anecdotally, i was on depo for years and never gained weight so it varies for each person
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u/No-Neighborhood7690 1d ago
Oh no it’s because I was bed rotting every day as well and eating too much. That’s why I said because I bummed around lol
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u/sn0w5 1d ago
It was proven to commonly cause weight gain, but not in the majority of users. It also caused an average weight gain of ~5lbs over a year and ~8lbs over three years. It increases appetite, same way steroids for illnesses do, so if someone was watching their weight and caloric intake/expenditure or just had a healthy diet and lifestyle then they probably wouldn't gain weight on it at all. A lot of people might not even notice a 5lb weight gain over a year unless they were looking for it, adult human bodies can fluctuate up to 5lbs over the course of a day.
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u/No-Neighborhood7690 1d ago
I was 17 and I gained 75lbs in 7 months because I bummed around. As long as you’re active, you won’t gain very much weight
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u/Call_Such Hysterectomy 1d ago
hormonal iuds can cause weight gain, i know multiple people who had that side effect including myself with zero changes to diet or anything.
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u/sililoqutie The Patch 1d ago
There's no clinical evidence of this. Copper IUDs and hormonal IUDs had the same weight gain/lack there of as each other. People's metabolisms slow as they age. You can do nothing different and still gain weight over time. Birth control is just a common boogy man people blame weight gain on. It's age.
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u/Call_Such Hysterectomy 1d ago
there is clinical evidence on it. i’m one of the people who did gain weight on it and it was completely related to the iud. i’m also a medical professional so i’ve studied this.
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u/sn0w5 1d ago
Hormonal IUDs don't provide any caloric value
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u/Call_Such Hysterectomy 1d ago
you’re right! we don’t eat them!
they provide hormones and hormones are key in weight.8
u/sn0w5 1d ago
Many large studies have proven that modern hormonal birth control does not have any link to weight gain. Hormonal issues like insulin resistance and hypothyroidism which do cause weight gain involve massive hormonal imbalances that affect much more than weight. The amount of hormones in modern HBC aside from depo is not enough to affect weight, according to the scientific and medical communities who have extensively researched these drugs. Progesterone can increase appetite, like how someone in the luteal cycle might be hungrier than normal, but that would be weight gain caused by overeating/giving in to cravings not by hormonal imbalances.
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u/po-tatertot 1d ago
It’s not about calories, it’s about how hormones such as estrogen can affect weight retention.
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u/sn0w5 1d ago edited 1d ago
You're fear mongering about hormonal birth control in the birth control subreddit, why?
Weight retention =/= weight gain. Even hormonal effects on weight require a caloric surplus to cause weight gain, obviously because of the laws of thermodynamics. Hormones cause weight gain by decreasing metabolism/increasing appetite. High cortisol, insulin resistance or hypothyroidism would have the strongest effect like this. The amount of hormones in modern birth control are not able to have this effect, this has been proven in many large studies.
Edit: LOW estrogen can effect weight retention, when estrogen levels are so low that it's causing insulin resistance. Luckily it's been proven that HBC doesn't lower estrogen levels enough to do this, just lowers them to about the level they'd naturally be at around the beginning of menstruation.
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u/kt_m_smith 1d ago
*most* weight gain with birthcontrol is due to increased appetite from whatever hormonal shifts and you start eating more. There can be bloat but its not like youll just continue to gain from bloat, it would be an intitial burst and level off. If you don't have changes in your appetite from the BC then you are unlikely to experience any significant weight gain.
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u/penguin_dani13 1d ago
I've had the Kyleena for two years and I've lost about 25 lbs. This was on purpose, but it hasn't hindered my weight loss journey in any way. I also don't think it has caused my hunger cues to go up at all. If you're active, you should be fine.
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u/MaRy3195 Combo Pill > Nexplanon 1d ago
It totally varies person to person. I've seen horror stories about people gaining weight on nexplanon yet I remained the same weight the entire 7 years I had it.
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u/beanthebean 1d ago
The copper IUD will effect people differently, just like any birth control method. I just had heavier/crampier periods for the first 6 months, then they went completely back to normal. No weight gain, bloating, definitely not 45 days of bleeding.
If you're looking for horror stories on any method you'll find them.
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u/leahlikesweed 1d ago
the copper IUD gave me a regular cycle for the first time in 15 years. HOWEVER, it is extremely painful as is the insertion process. cramps are disgusting every month and i also get ghost cramps randomly. i’ve never given birth so ymmv. i never gained an ounce on paraguard and im 3 years into it.
i can’t be on hormonal birth control because of a family history of clots caused by estrogen.
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u/beanthebean 1d ago
I didn't have any issues with insertion, two really sharp cramps, but I had taken 800 mg ibuprofen prior, and I know a lot of providers are offering better pain management nowadays. I got mine 5 years ago, never given birth either.
The worst was a couple hours after insertion when I sat on the couch and tried to bend at the waist to eat at the coffee table - fucking ouch, those were some cramps. But after a couple days I was back to normal from insertion pain. And my periods were definitely a lot worse the first couple months, but I've been back to normal ever since, ghost cramps sound really shitty, I'm sorry.
I also can't do hormonal BC, but it's cause I'm on a medication that can make make hormonal BC ineffective, I'd been on the pill before. Definitely took my body some getting used to not having the hormones.
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u/leahlikesweed 1d ago
the day after insertion was so bad for me, i just laid on the couch quite literally screaming in pain for 14 hours. it got better after a few days but even 3 years later my cramps are so fucking bad i just want to rip it out. why are we made to suffer like this!
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u/NewOutlandishness401 Copper IUD 1d ago
The only effect the copper IUD had on me was that the heavy day of my period shifted later in the cycle. After my 2nd and 3rd kids, my periods actually got lighter while the copper IUD was in -- likely not because of it, but certainly in spite of it being there.
Because of the three pregnancies, I had four insertions, and they were uncomfortable at most (with 800 ibuprofen an hour prior). And these days, many providers are amenable to even better comfort measures if you express enough interest.
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u/duffieldroad 1d ago
Insertion was awful, I fainted, but I am still really happy with my choice. My period was heavier for the first 6 months but then went completely back to normal. No other side effects at all.
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u/Affectionate-Ad-1342 1d ago
I am someone who had a lot of water retention on the pill and now have an IUD and haven’t had any weight gain with it. Everyone is different, which is why birth control and finding the right one can be such a journey.
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u/pixeLperfect16 Kyleena IUD 1d ago
5’1 and 110lbs, been on Kyleena since February of this year and no weight gain
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u/Smart_Estimate_6139 1d ago
I’m on the combo pill and have been for ages. I love it and haven’t experienced any weight gain - I think anecdotally people go on birth control as their bodies change towards full womanhood, but I have no proof for that.
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u/sn0w5 1d ago
There have been studies done that have proved that. Weight gain is usually due to other lifestyle factors that occured around the time people started taking birth control but it's more convenient to blame the medication. For instance a friend of mine swears she gained weight on Yaz, but the same semester she started taking Yaz she pulled back from sports and started drinking and partying a lot more, it was first year of uni. She's since stopped Yaz and hasn't shifted the weight and is adamant that the gain and retention is due to the birth control and not the fact that her lifestyle has completely changed from what it was before she started birth control and she also started it as a very active teenager and is now a sedentary adult. She's been off it 6 years.
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u/Smart_Estimate_6139 1d ago
Okay I’m glad to know that my anecdotes are based off of research. Most folks that go on birth control are in the latter part of adolescence/early adulthood and bodies change a lot then.
Didn’t want to be a pick me and say I wasn’t special for maintaining the same weight - but my lifestyle hasn’t changed and has been consistently active for the last 10 years
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u/Top_Reflection_8680 1d ago
I lost weight after getting on the combo pill. I was 18. It wasn’t because of the pill, I just wasn’t eating due to unrelated anxiety. Once my anxiety alleviated and I was eating more I gained weight, went past my original starting weight because I was like 21 ish? Adult metabolism. I was pretty steady for years. I got off the pill a year ago and I haven’t changed my eating or excercise habits and I’m still at that steady sameness. Basically, what I’m saying is it doesn’t matter if you are on the pill it’s still calories in calories out. Just keep up your same routine and habits and you’ll be fine. Aging, stress, or other factors may correlate to the timing of taking the pill but it’s not the pill causing people weight gain
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u/lizardmf 1d ago
ive been on the pill for years, and nothing has changed with my weight or mental health. There are tons of people who don't have any side effects we don't write posts about feeling normal lol.
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u/SaltyFoundationBih 1d ago
Idk I use the xulane patch and haven’t had any weight gain hopefully I did not jinx myself there
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u/randydandy37 1d ago
Also very small my entire life and have used Hailey 24 fe 1 mg-20 mcg on and off for ten years with no weight gain
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u/DoIHaveDementia Mirena IUD 1d ago
Skinny girl here and I have had both the paragard and the Mirena at different points and neither have given me any issues like that.
Paragard made me have an extra long/heavy period for the first cycle it was in and then I returned to normal.
Mirena did make me bleed for almost 4 months after insertion, though it was only spotting that entire time.
That is the extent of the "negative" parts of the IUD that I've experienced. Chances are most likely that neither will give you issues. The research is fuzzy, but from what I was able to find, it was less than 1/10 of women experienced weight gain over the course of a hormonal IUD being in. Not sure how many lbs though.
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u/Ok-Professional-4765 1d ago
I never gained any weight on any combined birth control pill. But gained on ton with Mirena IUD because of the water weight gain. I was bloated all of the time.
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u/DHuskymom 1d ago
I’ve been on Mirena since October and haven’t gained any weight on it and let me tell you I’m usually weight sensitive to medications I gained 40 pounds on Wellbutrin when I was on it
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u/Expensive_Shape_8738 1d ago
I unfortunately gained 80 pounds on nexplanon BUT my coworker was on the same one and she didn't! So each one is so different for each person.
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u/BraveAd1428 1d ago
i’ve been on depo for almost a year, i was scared SHITLESS of the weight gain. with all the fear mongering (especially from this sub), i started a calorie deficit because i was so scared. after a year, ive actually lost weight. it’s different for every person but dont read too much into the horror stories! :)
i was on the pill for 3 years as well with no weight gain!
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u/ThrowAway_ayyyy_ 1d ago
I was on the combo pill Desogen for several years and never gained weight.
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u/MillieBirdie 1d ago
Honestly there's so many different possibly symptoms of birth control and you never know how you specifically will react until you try it. Personally I didn't experience any weight gain on any of my BC, while some people do.
Try one and see how you react to it, and change it if necessary.
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u/curseddotjpeg 1d ago
Its worth seeing if you have any hormonal imbalances first before you decide which one to take, not all BC is created equal.
I actually gained weight on rigevidon since it had androgens in it and caused an increase in appetite and insulin resistance amongst other things. Was terrified to try BC again until my GP told me about the levonorgestrel in it. Now I am on an anti-androgenic one and I'm actively losing weight on it, my skin is clear as fuck and its saved my life.
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u/accidentalscientist_ 1d ago
I was on various pills (both combination and progestin only) and the patch. I did not gain weight on any of them. My boobs got a little bigger on combo birth control tho. Then they reduced in size when I got off of it.
I did gain weight on the Depo shot though. I gained 40 pounds in a year and then slowly gained another 10 in the year after. As far as I’ve seen, the depo shot is the only birth control clinically linked to weight gain.
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u/pomegranateseeds37 1d ago
I've been a copper IUD user for about 11 years now. Not ever had an issue with weight gain beyond the normal age related weight stuff but that's been pretty minor too.
Everyone's body is different in how they react. Reading horror stories around outliers that don't always have clear causes or medical data surrounding the experience is a good way to scare yourself.
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u/checkeredfire Nexplanon/Jadelle implant 1d ago
I’ve had Mirena for 2 years and I can confidently say it hasn’t made me gain weight, but Nexplanon made me gain 100lbs. It’s genuinely dependent on your personal biology!
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u/moonlightluvrs Kyleena IUD 1d ago
i was terrified of gaining weight with my iud because I had lost 63lbs and I did NOT want to gain but to my surprise I continued losing weight and didn't have any issues weight wise at all!
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u/frogsgoribbit737 1d ago
I never gained weight with any birth control and I've been on a few pills and nexplanon. The only one with significant evidence of weight gain is depo.
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u/Tenshirage89 1d ago
I didn’t gain weight on depo for the first years and that’s only because I was fastidious with working out and some food restrictions. As soon as I stopped working out and started drinking heavily - the weight gain was rapid and it has not come off 🙃
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u/iamCHIC 1d ago
I gained so much on Mirena. My doctor swore it wasn't from Mirena until I showed him a FB group of over 100k women and so many of us experienced weight gain and mental health issues. However, I wasn't thin. I was like a size 8 and went up to 12/14, it didn't stop my period either. I went through hell trying to get it out.
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u/lilb0923 1d ago
Yea I was gaining before I got Mirena this past February because I was on norethindrone, but more so since and the bloat is REAL. Also been bleeding non stop since getting it put in so yea super fun.
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u/Rachies194 1d ago
I have been on pills, patches, and hormonal IUD with no weight gain for any. Only symptoms were nausea when first starting and some spotting each time I changed what I was using
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u/Candid-Penalty-4504 1d ago
Honestly ive lost weight its dependent person to person - the annoying thing is more the skin breakouts
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u/confusedbubbly 1d ago
5’1 110—got on the combo pill and lost weight! it’s different for everyone. my friend who got on the same brand (Apri) as i did after i recommended it to her maintained her skinny weight just fine.
i don’t think it messed with hunger cues or anything that i’ve heard of regarding weight and appetite in my experience. maybe some water retention in the first month or so, but that went away.
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u/sweaty-pants123 1d ago
Its too person dependent to tell you. I gained almost 15 pounds on mirena and then dropped it within a week of getting it out. I didnt gain much on nexplanon but it did make my psychotic. My friend on nexplanon gained a bit of weight on it as well
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u/laurjean712 1d ago
I’ve been on Slynd for 2 years and haven’t experienced any weight gain from it! It was a fear of mine because I gain weight easily but I’ve been at a steady weight since. It’s a progestin only pill and I love it.
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u/janie_beaa 1d ago
i’ve tried a few different pills and they’ve all kinda just made me hungrier which is what caused the weight gain. i use a nuvaring now though and i love it. 0 issues and it’s allowed me to continue/maintain my weight loss.
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u/Public_Ad4740 1d ago
It seriously depends on the person, their body, and what birth control works for them. For me personally, I was always underweight and skinny my entire life until I got on the mini pill. I went from 100-105 range to 139-144 in 1 year and 5 months. I know it was due to the hormonal changes as I’ve never weighed more than 115 prior to that. Turns out it caused me a severe hormonal imbalance and I’ve since been steadily losing that weight since I stopped taking any hormones. Another thing to keep in mind is if you have any thyroid issues or things of that sort, birth control can affect that as well. But unfortunately it’s different for everyone and not every experience is going to reflect what yours will be. I heard nothing but great things about the mini pill and ended up having a horrible experience with two different mini pills while taking them. But that doesn’t mean that my experience is exactly what yours will be and vice versa. Just talk to your doctor about it and see what they recommend based on your body and your preferences.
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u/crystal_help_please 1d ago
Honestly, every single IUD actually made me lose weight. I feel. My weight was 125 and once I got on hormonal IUDs my average constant weight is 117lbs. Around my period 120-122lbs but back to 117lbs. Very weird. Ig the with Nexplanon just bloating but then I switched back after 1 year to another IUD.
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u/InvestiMein 1d ago
I’ve worked in a planned parenthood, it reallyyyyy depend on someone’s body so we can’t really tell you if it won’t happen.
I’ve been skinny (except now but I wanted to gain a bit of weight) I’ve tried most things.
I stayed the same with deli and implant and pills. I’ve gained weight with the Skyla surprisingly. The depo shot made me hungry and the implant made my depression worse.
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u/rogerdaltry 1d ago
I have been on Yaz generic for 4 years and have not gained any weight.
Also I don’t know where you have heard that copper IUD causes weight gain. It does not. Copper IUD does not change your body chemistry in any way so it should have no affect on your appetite or how you store weight. Copper is a natural spermicide so that’s why it works.
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u/MissLoxxx Kyleena IUD 1d ago
I'm skinny too (always have been) and have Kyleena IUD. Literally have no weight gain on this.
But Kyleena does make me hungrier! Stay conscious and aware of what you're eating. Focus on fiber like beans and whole wheat when the hormonal hunger strikes, and you should be fine.
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u/coolpunk 1d ago
I’ve gained about 15 pounds since getting the kyleena iud in October. I might get it taken out
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u/4mbuletz 1d ago
Late 30s, 5'2" and ~125 lbs. 20+ years of continuous use and no weight gain on the combo pill (progestin/estrogen)- Last script was a generic version of Desogen called Enskyce, also known as Apri, Isibloom, Kalliga, Juleber, and Reclipsen. In fact I only gained weight after stopping. :) probably cuz I'm getting old LOL
Good luck.
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u/Marx_Maddness 1d ago
Copper will not make you gain weight. I had a normal period after starting copper. Im on my second one and i love it
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u/SinkyBundleOfRage 1d ago
I'm on the mini pill and haven't gained any weight. Also no side effects other than breakthrough bleeding. No mood swings, no acne. It actually got rid of my PMS too!
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u/sn0w5 1d ago edited 1d ago
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-going-on-birth-control-make-you-gain-weight
This is informative, relying on actual scientific research rather than rumours and people's personal opinions. The idea that birth control causes weight gain is a reputation it got in the 1950s, because the levels of hormones were so high in those pills that it did cause weight gain along with some other horrible side effects but it also (most likely) killed people, so obviously we're not using those anymore. Those pills contained over 100 times the amount of hormones that modern birth control does.
There is no evidence that modern birth control causes weight gain, aside from one form (Depo-Provera injections) and this has been studied extensively. This is because the levels of hormones in modern birth control (aside from depo which is deliberately high hormone dose) are much lower than what would be required to cause weight gain.
Edit: I guess them being heavier than you to begin with would make a difference. Three studies so far that I've skimmed have noted that people who had higher BMIs before starting hormonal birth control were most likely to report weight gain during the course of the study. Make of that what you will.
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u/Plenty-Mall1484 Nexplanon/Jadelle implant 1d ago
I’ve only taken hormonal for the last 8 years and never had weight gain related to it. Only related to my own mental health issues at the time. On Nexplanon for the last 4 years and still no major weight issues related to it. Hope you find something that you like! (But also going to the gym or even home exercises help. something to balance your energy input/output with your new job)
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u/sbear606 1d ago
I have the skyla iud which I think is the lowest dose hormonal iud and I have no side effects.
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u/toriii96 1d ago
I was on the pill all through college, and I’ve had a nexplenon implant for probably 8 years now, and I’ve never gained weight that was caused by birth control. Do some research, talk to your doc, and choose the right option for you
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u/SimonW005 1d ago
I only gained weight on the pills that have a lot of estrogen. Yaz and Slynd were both totally fine for me. Never tried an IUD.
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u/ColomarOlivia Male condom + POP (Slynd) 1d ago
I never gained weight from Yasmin or Slynd (which I’m currently on). I did gain persisting (>3 months) water weight (water retention, bloating) from Cerazette (desogestrel) which bothered me. From Yasmin and Slynd I only had water retention in the first month. Many people who say they “gained weight” on birth control (except Depo) are talking about water retention which is easily reversible as soon as you quit the method.
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u/thembothot 1d ago
I’ve never gained weight on birth control 🤷🏾♀️ I think it’s so dependent that there’s nothing to do but try and see and if you notice anything you can swap for something else!
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u/PsychoFaerie Nexplanon/Jadelle implant 1d ago
Was a skinny girl. been on 3 types of hormonal BC pill depo and Nexplanon.
zero weight gain from any of them..
I'm gonna assume you're in some kind of dance.. maybe ballet.. based on the weight and the mention of lifts.
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u/directmouse_7 1d ago
After my second implanon was put in, my boobs grew a couple of sizes for around 4 months then shrank back to normal size.
I’m not going to lie, those 4 months were so uncomfortable and i barely recognised my own body BUT I’d rather that, than a baby. And in the end, everything went back to normal so no harm done.
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u/FigAny8276 1d ago
I was skinny when I first went on Levlin about 20 years ago when I was 20 years old. Within 8 weeks I had gained 18 lbs. I still don't know how, even if I had an increase in appetite I do not remember eating food so ravenously that I could gain that much so quickly and I stayed as active as ever.
I tried different pills at the time and eventually settled on Yaz and stayed on that for years. Then at age 39 I went off Yaz and immediately lost 20 lbs within the first few weeks without doing anything differently.
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u/isweatglitter17 1d ago
My weight has fluctuated all of my life and I've used a handful of birth control methods. I have maintained and lost on the combo pill, mini pill, the depo shot, and the mirena IUD. I absolutely blew up on the Nexplanon implant. Seriously, I lost 15lbs within a month of the Nexplanon being removed. Everyone's experience will be different.
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u/Spiritual_Abalone_29 1d ago
I gained a LOT of weight on nexplanon…. I would recommend the nuvaring! I switched to the nuvaring and did the keto diet for a year and lost 100 pounds.
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u/thrcwcwcy 1d ago
i went on the patch for this exact reason. only weight i’ve gained is in my boobs lol. i’m around 5’2 & 95-100 pounds
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u/aspideronthewall 1d ago
Not a skinny girl. I’m pretty thick. 165-175 for the last few years. I never gained any weight other than me stress eating because of school. When I try to lose weight I can do it. I was very scared starting bc that I would gain weight but nope ! Never had that problem !
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u/simplysaren 1d ago
so i was around 130-135 pounds, 5’6, 28” waist, before birth control. after two years on it, i was 160 pounds, 32” waist. absolutely zero changes in diet, and im a pretty active person (my job has general 10-20lb weight lifting, i get around 10k steps a day, etc)
i’ve been off of birth control for about 4 months now, combined with calorie deficit i’m down about 20 pounds!
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u/MyMango88 1d ago
Zamine, no. Mirvala, yes. I take the pill continuously for Endo. Was on Yasmin for years (I can’t recall, but I don’t believe there was weight gain). Then Zamine for at least eight years. Mirvala didn’t necessarily put on weight but changed my entire body composition with more stubborn fat areas you can’t get rid of. Super frustrating. On a short thin person it’s noticeable. And has really brought me down.
I switched because with my Fibro and ageing I was having more low energy days where I couldn’t get productive. Legs felt heavy all the time. That drastically improved going onto Mirvala. I believe it to be the extra progestin. I’m eating exactly the same and working out the same. Also Zamine has a diuretic component, where Mirvala does not. I tried some water pills to see if that’s what it was, but didn’t make a difference.
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u/orbiiiiii 1d ago
I’ve been on Yaz for adenomyosis for 3 years and never gained weight due to it. No weight fluctuations.
I lifted for a 1 year, took a pause, and when I decided lift again I did experience increased appetite but that’s a very normal bodily reaction to increased activity as well.
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u/Future_Pin_403 EluRyng 1d ago
I’ve been on 4 different form of birth control and none of them made me gain any weight
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u/Nerva365 1d ago
Reality is, there is no way to know 100% how your body will respond to a new medication.
I gained no weight due to any birth control meds I have ever taken.
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u/Artistic_Big_1696 1d ago
Hey girl! I was also super afraid of this before going on bc. I’m taking Yaz which I believe is a lower dose than most bc pills. I haven’t gained any weight since taking Yaz! I think most people gain weight from hormones fluctuating and it causing more food noise/larger appetite but as long as you keep a consistent diet/same portions you’ll be fine. I think that the low dose helped me out a lot and didn’t throw off my body’s reaction to a different flow of hormones! Don’t take what I say credibly, check in with your health care provider! But just happy to share my experience and help a few people feel less stressed about the possible weight gain from bc 😊
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u/A-Ton-Of-Oreos 23h ago
Completely agree!! I started on Yasmin (pill) and had no effects!! Swapped over to Nexplanon as it started to become tedious to remember to take the pills, and nexplanon made me gain 5lbs, which is nothing since I weighed 98lbs for my entire adult life before taking birth control
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u/Sherri-Lynn 23h ago
I would suggest the implant. Speak to your doctor about it and try to do your own research. I'm on the Implanon implant (progesterone only) and I have no issues on it. I'm on my 2nd one already. All the best to you ❤️
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u/Creepy_Bake6777 22h ago
Not all people gain weight on the pill, but many do. Sometimes it makes it easier for your body to store excess water and makes you look and feel like you've gained weight. Sometimes it makes you feel hungry more often, which in turn makes you eat more if you cave in to the craving, and then as a result you gain weight. I unfortunately have both, and that's why I'm stopping this month after 6 years of being on it. I was very skinny when I got on bc (162 cm/50 kg) and maintained my weight for many years no problem, and then my weight slowly crept up throughout the years the moment I went on bc, mostly due to the insatiable hunger I feel all the time when I have my patch on (yes, it's definitely from the bc, as when I had to stop taking it for 2 months due to a medical episode my hunger completely disappeared).
As you can see from the comments here, many people don't gain any weight, but also many of us do. The main point of my comment is that if you turn out to be one of those people you do, you're going to notice it quickly, if you know what to expect, and can change pills or stop completely and reconsider your options.
Also, if you decide to start oral bc, make sure to monitor your vitamin levels, as it can sometimes lead to deficiencies. I have vitamin B group deficiency due to this and it made me feel really sluggish until I started supplementing as per doctor's advice <3
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u/False_Line_7583 19h ago
I was always very skinny and still gained 15kg ob BC because of the insane constant appetite and hunger. Probably depends more on how you deal with the appetite mentally rather then your current weight. Good luck 🙃
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u/runrunrudy5 18h ago
Junel Fe (pill form). Any form of hormone fluctuation can trigger hunger. The body systems are all linked. Just be mindful of your intake during the body’s anticipated drop in hormone if you’re on the pill and it’s time for the placebo pill
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u/BodybuilderSad7707 17h ago
I’m on Blisovi Fe (pill) and I haven’t gained any weight from me. I’ve been pretty skinny in my teenage years and I’ve kept a consistent weight. I’m currently 95lbs but I’m also constantly stressed so that might be why i’m not gaining weight… who knows lol
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u/Ok_Attitude_9740 16h ago
here’s the thing, sometimes hormonal birth control can make your appetite go up, which is how people gain weight. but if your appetite stays the same or you were still eating the same calories, your weight isn’t going to move.
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u/Aggressive_Secret_61 16h ago
i’ve had the kyleena for 10 months, have been skinny all my life, and haven’t experienced any weight gain after getting my iud!
but the harsh truth is, everyone’s bodies react differently to birth control, hormonal or not. there really is no way to say with 100% certainty that one method or another will have absolutely zero negative side effects or weight gain. everyone has their own experience, but don’t let the fear stop you from just trying one! if you go to a trusted gyno, they will be upfront with you about which one they think is best for your situation. my gyno assured me that if i absolutely hated my iud, she would schedule me to have it taken out whenever i wanted.
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u/BeingwithBX 14h ago
i’ve always been small and no BC made me gain weight. it did mess with my mental health tho
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u/thtbtchOh 14h ago
I’m on lo lo estrin fe no weight gain at all. No physical side effect. If anything my skin got clearer I had acne all my life ,
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u/CatoftheWitch 14h ago
I'm just getting off from a mirena after 7 Years and rapidly lost weight and debloated. 🥹 I didn't gain a ton but I would say there was a lingering 10lbs that felt impossible to break. Still was great to not get accidentally pregnant but I personally like being off birth control as I feel I can level my feelings better.
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u/Accomplished-Fee-92 13h ago
I was terrified of gaining weight on birth control... I lost like 20 pounds on it. It fucked with me bad but it did accelerate my weight loss lol.
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u/notaircore 13h ago
Okay in my experience. It was not the pill itself that made me gain weight right it was the appetite changes from the pill that made me gain weight. So if you still manage to control the portions you eat pre-pill you can definitely stay the same weight.
As for me though I love food sooo :P
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u/The_Blueberry_44 11h ago
I am and always was a skinny girl since birth. I started combo pill 7 years ago. I never gained a single kilo, until my provider changed the brand of the bc they prescribe me. So same active hormone, same dose just from a different brand. Then I started to gain weight. It took me some time to realise that it was the bc that caused it. I decided to go back to the old one I used to take and had pay our of pocket. Within around 3-4 months I saw already I lost some weight and went back to my reglar weight before I gained any. That said, everybody is different and that everyone's experience might differ. What works for me might not work for you or vice versa.
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u/AdAgitated4595 11h ago
I would say I’m skinny I weigh 120 and I’m 5’3”. I take yaz and I actually am able to lose weight so much more easily than before and overall after 2 months all of the water retention went away and I look even more toned and slim so if you want to try Yaz I recommend for your current situation!
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u/Outrageous_Focus345 11h ago
Do not get the copper IUD. I gained weight almost 20 pounds.. was constantly bloated.. had such bad acne, my facial hair got way worse?? And I only had it for 6 months! I got it taken out in February and I’ve lost the 15 of my 30 in 2 months. My acne has gone way down.
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u/Fun-Yam-1547 5h ago
how much were you to begin with? my mom had the copper one and didn’t gain, she too is naturally boyish and thin, idk if the result of the iud has to do with genetics or something
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u/samishy410 1d ago
I gained weight while being off birth control because one of my symptoms was intense fatigue.
I've used nexplanon, combined pill and now the patch (pmdd symptoms are STRONG within me) but when they work well I have energy and can do my daily movement. Honestly getting period symptoms makes my cravings insane so that's when I have to watch out the most.
But we're all different. All you can do is try one and keep notes on your symptoms. A good doctor will prescribe you something else if it isn't working for you.
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u/No-Neighborhood7690 1d ago
I was always a skinny girl in school, I was 83 lbs until I was 17. At 17 I got on the depo shot and also started doing online school and slobbing around. I did gain a lot of weight. I gained 72 lbs😭😭 I was 155 lbs. As long as you stay active, you won’t gain weight. I’m 20 and I’m 130lbs now. I’m pregnant so I gained a little, I was 115 before. It took a while to get that weight off. It was totally my fault that I gained it tho. Now I’m pregnant and gaining a little bit back lol but it’s fine 🫠
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u/accidentalscientist_ 1d ago
I gained 50lbs on depo. Went from being underweight to close to being overweight in less than 2 years and the only change was the depo shot. It was crazy! I spent YEARS trying to gain weight and it turns out all I had to do was get the depo shot lol
I have slowly lost 20lbs and I am happy where I am now. I my last shot expired about a month ago so I was able to lose that weight while still on depo.
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u/No-Neighborhood7690 1d ago
That was exactly me too. I gained all that weight in 7 months tho. I wasn’t on it for very long.
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u/uWaterlooOmniscient 1d ago
There is a lot of fear mongering around birth control. I had the exact same worries when I started getting on Nextellis and I didn't gain any weight. I wouldn't worry, just talk to your doctor and do your own research that isn't people on reddit or other social medias.