Because of some past health issues, I can't take any chemical form of birth control, so I have no idea on what it does to your body. My friends have all gained weight on it though.

I've been on 4 different kinds, the pill, the patch, the shot and the ring. None have changed my weight at all. I did have bad side affects from the shot (period for 3 months, severe depression) but no weight change.

I've been on the pill, a couple different types of those, the shot and the ring and I had the worst weight gain from the shot. On the other forms I was fluffier that I normally am but I didn't have really bad weight gain. It depends on your physical activity I guess, because I had a more sedentary life on the shot than any of the other forms.

According to my mom, who does a lot of hormone research, in the 1960's when the pill was first invented, many women did gain weight on it because the hormone doses were much higher. Since then, they have learned it takes a lower amount of hormones to get the job done. Hence, there is not an increased weight gain risk with today's hormones.

I was on the pill for a couple months and it raised my blood pressure so high and my heart started skipping beats... a lot. I was on a super low dose too. Needless to say, I am too scared to try any other pill/type.

I don't get how it makes you gain weight. I mean aren't you the one sticking the food in your mouth? I can see maybe some water weight but when people say 15 lbs from it I don't buy it.

My current birth control hasn't caused a change at all, but in the past one method (the Patch) caused me to gain weight, and another (Depo shot) caused me to lose almost 20 pounds, like weirdly fast.

I went off the pill this summer, too! I don't care what the research says, I went off and I lost ten pounds despite not exercising more, and eating like I always did. Besides that, I was on the pill constantly for eight years - now that I'm off, I wonder what my life would have been like. I actually have real emotions now! It's pretty crazy, I totally cry at everything (good and bad,) and I just tell people that I'm "feeling feelings" again.

aimeeb, I think it's because it changes your metabolism in some way. Hormones are freaky things.

When i started Ortho 777 - this was 10 years ago -, i gained quite a bit of volume. Over a period of a month or so (mind you, I had just moved to SF and started walking and working out a lot more), my clothes were getting much too tight and my boobs grew from a B cup to a large C cup. It was a fun time for my bf, haha. A year later, I missed some doses, threw out my pill pack, and "started over" the following month... amazingly, I was then able to fit into my skinny jeans. Note that during that time, I was indulging and eating a lot during a week in Vegas. When I THEN when I went back on the Pill a month later, I expanded and I was no longer able to fit into the skinny jeans.

Over time, I've tried different types of Pills. My boobs shrank, I got older, and my metabolism slowed down. I'm very sure the first Pill changed my weight, but now I don't think my current pills affect me at all.

I gained weight but it's not that the pill made me fat -- it filled me out! I looked way better/curvier/sexier once on the pill than before. I stayed thin but just grew a more hourglass shape.

When I was on the patch and pill, I gained weight; however, I never gained it while off it.

I feel I have gained a few pounds since going on the pill a year ago, I am certainly more bloated in my tummy and my boobs are bigger. It kind of sucks and I'm wondering if it's really worth it, perhaps I should just go back to using condoms.

i gained a few pounds when i first started the pill, but it was mostly in my boobs so i didn't mind

I started BC last summer to regulate my periods. Strangely, around the same time I found out [in a very painful way] that I also had a large gallstone!

So, I had to change my eating habits drastically for my gallbladder's sake...and I've started losing weight.

I'm not sure whether any of it has anything to do with being on BC, but I haven't lost a massive amount of weight - so I'm pretty sure it hasn't affected it much. If there's any retention, it's probably minimal.

I've tried a bunch of different methods. Unfortunately, the pill generally makes me an emotional wreck, but the shot is definitely giving me issues with my appetite. Given the choice, I'd rather be a little chubby than have constant moodswings, but I'm not really enamoured with either option.

FOR ME, THE PILL MAKES IT HARDER TO LOSE WEIGHT.

When I went on the pill, I actually lost a lot of weight. My periods were really bad before I was on it and I was getting them 2 or 3 times a month. It was basically like having your period 3 out of 4 weeks in a month. I was always hungry for comfort food, and just binge ate all the time. I was miserable. Once I went on the pill and my periods were more regular, I stopped having a lot of those problems and I was better able to stick to a healthy diet and though my boobs did grow (an unwanted side effect for my already D-cup breasts) I lost almost 20 lbs.

Now that I have been off of it for a couple of years I am starting to get my period more frequently again and I have gained back the weight...I'm probably going to go back on it.

I've been on the pill for a few years and haven't gained any weight. In fact, it's helped saved me from emotional eating that pms often triggers and lessened bloating a lot. I love it.

the first pill i ever tried made me gain 8 pounds in 2 months and i'm tiny (5 feet) - it was awful - my boobs were killing me and i just felt rundown and disgusting - i went on vacation, had a breakdown and threw the pills out in my hotel room and gradually lost the weight over the next 6 months or so...the pill i'm on now seems to be agreeing with me more

I gained weight from it. I didn't change anything when I started the pill and gained quite a bit of weight. I just recently quit (this is my first month without it). And I'm hoping that I will lose the weight I gained.

No pill for me. . .never ever!

No pill for me. . .never ever!

i am on the pill, and i haven't gained or lost weight, but i can't lose it! i keep on working out and eating right, but it's essentially frozen my weight where it is. so frustrating!

I never had weight gain from the pill, but I had other side effects. Depression, lowered sex drive, and spotted for 4 months.

I'm not really sure if BC ever caused me to gain weight because I started taking it right before Thanksgiving. Who knows if it was the holidays or the pill? Haha

I was just recently put on Yaz. I previously had an IUD with zero hormones. After 3 months of being on Yaz I fluctuate from 3-5lbs over my usual weight. It seems that Yaz makes me retain a lot of water. I was wondering if anyone else has had the same effect form Yaz? If so did you switch types of pills? Just wondering what pill has the least amounts of effects??? On a side note I was put on the pill because of pain caused by endometriosis. Since being put on the pill and cutting out my periods my pain has subsided. But I have contemplated just taking the pain over the water weight.

I haven't *gained* weight since I started the pill, but I do notice I have to work harder and eat more carefully or I certainly will. I'll keep taking it, but it's frustrating to know it does affect my fitness.

I love how people are quick to blame a pill on weight gain. Make sure you honestly look at other factors - diet, sleep, exercise. I gained weight on the pill ---- because I was eating like crap and drinking too much (college!). I also LOST weight on the pill !!

I gain a little weight when on the pill, all in my boobs (I go up about half a cup size) and in my lower tummy region. When I'm off birth control I have a nice flat stomach, but being baby free is worth a little bloat.

I can see how people can gain water weight - ~5 lbs - on the pill. But some people gain a significant amount. There is no way hormones can mess with your metabolism THAT much. If you gain a lot of weight from the pill, it's because you're eating too much. The pill can definitely increase appetite and/or cravings. From what I've heard though, you should just try to fight off the cravings & eventually they'll subside (like after a month or 2).

Personally, I wouldn't stay on a pill that caused me to have negative side effects. Eating right and exercise are too important to me to let some pill have any control over what I eat or my weight. It sometimes takes a few tries to find the right pill, and what works for you will depend on you and no one else, as hormones will have different effects on people.

I am on the Depot shot, never used any form of birth control [hormonal] and I've noticed I've lost weight easier, and I've not really made any changes in eating habits. I did notice however, that it made my depression worse than it was before. To me, that's worse than weight gain.

I find I gain 3-5 lbs of water weight. I slowly build up around my belly over 3 months (I go 3 months in a row on the ring for endometriosis) and then it all goes away the week of my period.

When I first started on BC almost 10 years ago, I gained water weight like crazy--I had kankles! After a few months, my body got used to it, and it went away.

NikkiRuby, going three months at a time can make it take your body longer to get used to BC than when doing it on the usual monthly cycle. What will give the fewest side-effects really depends on the woman. My doc said it's almost impossible to tell which pill will work best, so there's always trial and error. (But remember, your doc can't help you if you don't call and let them know you're suffering!)

I gained weight when I first started the pill, even though I was pretty active and saw a trainer once a week. It took me a while to work it off and figure out how to maintain my weight and minimize the bloat.

Ah, how simple life is when you don't have to worry about birth control.
These are the times I'm really happy to not be straight.

Actually, stopping BC does tend to result in weight gain -- pregnancy is the most common reason behind significant permanent weight gain in women of childbearing age. But studies have never ever documented weight gain or loss attributable to any form of combined hormonal contraception (pill, patch, ring). The depo provera shot is a different situation, that has been associated with some weight gain in studies (but quantity is somewhat controversial).

I'm not on any BC right now, but I'm considering going on the pill (to regulate my period) and weight gain is something that I am concerned about. I'm already a little heavier than I "should" be, which I'm fine with, but I don't want to gain weight just from taking a little pill. So hopefully if/when I do go on the pill, any weight gain will only be in my boobs. Lol!

A lot of you women seem so judgemental.

Guess what? The pill CAN make you gain weight. It depends on your body-type and metabolism and yes people do EVEN IF they eat right, exercise well. It can also increase appetite, so you may eat more if you aren't careful. And of course, it is well-known to cause water weight gain because of the way it effects your kidneys.

So don't go jumping down people's throats just because they say the pill made them gain weight. Everyone is different.

I've been on the pill for 12 years so it is hard to say what is what, but I do struggle with my weight and I am constantly "puffy."

I just stopped taking the pill on Saturday so you can be sure I'll let you know what happens to my body after being hormonely manipulated for so long.

I would also like to point out that even if the pill doesn't make you gain weight without reason, it can and does make it harder to lose weight.

My deal is the first BC I was given made me gain weight, it happened to be a estrogen-only based BC and it didn't work on me at all. It was suppose to suppress my period and stop me from having severe cramping and pain between periods.

The next BC I got was Progestin-only (POP) based it to caused weight gain and did not work for me.

Then I got another BC and it was a combination pill and it worked for me (stopped cramping and pain between periods), I didn't gain weight from it I lost weight BECAUSE it was making me sick to my stomach because it drastically increase my potassium levels and soured my stomach.

Next BC I got did cause a little weight gain because it stopped all bloating but I'm allergic to the adhesive you use to stick the patch to your body.

Now I'm going to switch yet again to Seasonale which is another combination pill (Ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel) and will see is 1) it works to stop my periods completely 2) if it stops me from cramping and having pain between periods and 3) if it cause weight gain or weight loss.

I gained weight on every estrogen based pill that I've tried. I had to go off yazmine b/c it made me an emotional basketcase for 3 months straight. Not only did the pill cause water retention, it also gave me crazy cravings, I was hungry all the time and I had no energy. The minute I decided enough was enough and decided to go off, my mood improved, my energy was back and I was able to eat normal again.

I've recently started a progesterone only pill and while I'm seeing a little bit of the same effects, its no where near the amount as when I was on estrogen based pills.

To whoever asked about Yaz - i tried it and didn't like it. It had the same effect as the rest - hunger, fatigue.

my pill is like my personal ANTIdepresant it's so sad to hear other ladies teel stories how they got depressed... i don't know, i definetely haven't gained any weight since on the pill, but losing it wasn't easy, but i didn't try hard enough. just got my HRM today and the readings freaked me out a bit. it was 95 when i did it and i'm only 22. i rested for an hour and it went down to 74-88 always chaging so now it's not only how i look but how i feel and how healthy i am.

I use to take birth control pills but no longer do. I never gained weight in the few years I was on it but I constantly felt bloated so my pants felt tight. However, whenever I stepped on the scale, I weighed the same, I hate the bloated feeling, on top of other things. I'm a lot happier now that I'm off of it but mostly because it made me really moody.

I gained weight when I tried the pill. It was weird weight gain. My body changed shape. My waist thickened, and so did my thighs. I lost my hourglass figure. And I was puffy all over. My big breasts got even bigger. I was a natural C-cup, and I became a full D. I'm petite, so my extra large breasts were too much.

There were many other undesirable side effects, too.

Who the hell told her that Birth control makes you loose weight? Seriously thats the most unbelieveable excuse ever. And birth control is made with such a low dose of hormones that it doesnt effect your weight that badly.

i have been on the pill and used the nuva ring and noticed no major changes.

I lost weight on the pill... unfortunately I lost sex drive, periods, etc... it took me 1 year to gain my cycles back. I WILL NEVER do that again to myself. I would rather be a size 8 then a size 4 and "not a woman"

i didn't gain weight because of the pill itself, but it affected my appetite in a bad way- i would starve myself all week to make up for binges that iw ould have on the weekend. during my period i'd eat chocolate for a week straight, and now that i'm off it, it's hard to lose weight while my body adjusts to the hormone changes again.
so now it's just a matter of waiting to see if my body returns to normal.

When I first start taking the pill after I've been off of it for a while my appetite really increases, which causes me to gain a couple of pounds. If I could just control my eating there would be no initial weight gain, but your body adjusts and your appetite returns to normal.

I don't take birth control pills, but have friends that find they have a hard time losing weight while on them.