Ask Reya: Does Birth Control Cause Weight Gain?

When considering what type of birth control to use, weight gain is often a concern. The fear of weight gain is reported as a common reason folks don’t start or continue with hormonal contraception. And listen, we understand that weight can be difficult to talk about. As your birth control bestie, we want you to take care of yourself. If this subject matter is tender for you or you’re struggling, please reach out for support.  

THE SHORT ANSWER

Is no. Studies show that use of Combination Hormonal Contraceptives (CHCs) like pills, patches, rings, and other hormonal contraceptive methods like IUDs and implants is not associated with substantial weight gain. That doesn’t mean it never happens. What it does mean is that when weight gain occurs after starting birth control, it’s likely due to a couple of pesky side effects that can lead to weight fluctuations. Let’s take a closer look. 

WATER RETENTION

One of the main hormones used in contraceptives is estrogen. A common side effect of estrogen is water retention. When estrogen levels fluctuate, the body holds on to excess water, which can cause a puffy or swollen feeling and weight gain. The good news is, it’s temporary! If you do gain weight after starting a contraceptive, things should level out after the first few months. 

INCREASED APPETITE

The other hormone you’ll find in some contraceptives is progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone which is known to cause an increased appetite. Rising progesterone is the reason so many menstruating people experience cravings and munchies while PMSing! Naturally, an increased appetite may cause you to eat more. Eating more than you usually would, can cause weight gain. It’s perfectly normal. If you need a little extra reassurance, your doctor can help you determine what a healthy weight range is for you and how to stay within it.  You can then set a Birth Control Boundary in the Reya App to keep track and maintain the weight range you set for yourself! 

TRY TO REMEMBER

What makes a “healthy” weight range is different from person to person, and depends on a whole lot of different factors that are unique to you. That’s why we recommend sorting it out with your doctor. If you are struggling with your mental health surrounding food and body image, please chat with your doctor about that, too. You deserve to live happily and healthily in your body. 

THE EXCEPTION

Depo-Provera, also known as The Shot, is a convenient and highly effective contraceptive method. It’s an injection taken every 3 months and is 94-99% effective. However, Depo-Provera is also the only form of hormonal contraceptive that has been directly associated with weight gain due to an increase in body fat. On average, users gain about 5 pounds a year while receiving the Depo shot. It’s not clear exactly why, but it could be a side effect of hormone fluctuations, or a steroid effect of the Depo shot. 

RISK FACTORS

It’s not easy to tell who’s at risk of gaining weight from the Depo shot before using it. Some people don’t gain any weight, some even lose weight! Scientific research does show that those who gained 5% or more of their body weight in the first 6 months of using the shot were likely to gain more weight overall. 

So if you do choose to start the shot and are concerned with the amount you’re gaining, your doctor can help you decide the next steps in terms of weight management or changing contraceptive methods. 

ON THE OTHER HAND

Despite the side effects, the Deposhot is popular for a reason! It also has some serious advantages, including:

• It may make your periods lighter or stop them entirely. 

• You only need 4 shots a year; so convenient!

• It’s highly effective.

• It’s safe for nursing parents after 6 weeks postpartum.

• It’s safe for individuals who cannot tolerate estrogen.

Only 2% of users in a large-scale clinical trial dropped out because of excessive weight gain, so the risk seems to be relatively low. Depo could definitely be worth a try!

IN A NUTSHELL

Most forms of combined hormonal contraceptives have little to no impact on body weight. Depo-Provera is an outlier, but not everyone who uses it experiences weight gain. It’s so important to consider your mental and physical health when choosing contraception. You gotta do what’s right for you! 

Everybody is different, and birth control may affect you totally differently than the next person. While research helps give us an idea of what may be normal, your experience could be different. 

If you start birth control and you don’t like how you feel, it’s okay to try something different. If you want a head start figuring out the right birth control for you, Reya is here to help!