If you're looking to build lean muscle mass, taking oral contraceptives might be interfering with all your hard work. A recent study from Texas A&M University, involving 73 generally healthy women between 18 and 31, found that women not taking birth control pills gained 60 percent more muscle mass than women on the pill during a 10-week time period.
All the women in the study participated in the same whole-body resistance exercise training program and worked out three times a week under the supervision of exercise physiologists, but half were using oral contraceptives and the other half were not. All the women performed the same exercises, same number of reps, at the same intensity. The study participants were also encouraged to increase their intake of protein, by about a third more than nutritional guidelines, to ensure they wear eating enough protein to build muscle mass. After the 10-week workout period, the women who were not on the pill had significantly more lean muscle mass.
Information on both groups hormone levels, when you read more.
A comparison of blood samples between the two groups indicated the women using oral contraception had less testosterone in their system, a hormone necessary for making muscle. In addition, women on the pill had more cortisol in their systems, which is a hormone that helps break down muscle tissue.
Bonprix
Stila
Anna Sui
Oh, for goodness' sake.
I've just been diagnosed with PCOS, and have been prescribed Dianette to control my terrible skin symptoms. I've been super-excited to start as I can't wait to sort my skin out, but I also love to train (with the goal of building more muscle mass - another symptom of PCOS is excess weight) so now I'm a little less happy...
1this is probably good for me
, i bulk up too quickly
2ugh, another reason to think about stopping bc pills. but i would be so nervous every month if i didn't know the exact day i would be getting my period...
3Well this explains a lot.
4hahah i was just going to say that 'imLissy'.... oh well, when I try strength training i usually just lose my chest and nothing else happens... how depressing.
5If you use NFP and take your temp you will know when your period starts, it is the day of your temp drop.
6This is so depressing. I stopped taking the pill for about 4 months sometime last year. During this time, my eating habits became much better, and my arms were looking a lot more toned. I'm now back on the pill, and have a hard time controlling my daily calorie intake. I work out 5 days each week, but since my eating is not wonderful, my body does not look like an athlete's. I thought it was all mental, but now I'm convinced the pill is ruining all of my hard work.
7Does anybody know if this applies to the Nuva Ring?
8I've had really bad luck with birth control - my doctor prescribed the ring but I'm really wary about bc since the terrible experiences I've had.
I would take this with a grain of salt, there are a ton of different birth control pills out there each with different dosages and combinations of hormones. I would be more interested if they compared high to low dosages etc. You can't work out with heavy weights if you're pregnant anyway...
9I'm on the pill for last few years and I didn't have any problem of this sort. I can lose fat and build lean muscle. Maybe it's the type of OC that makes difference? I use low hormone OC.
10You know, I wondered why I lift and lift, but I always seem to stay the same muscle-tone-wise. I do try to up my weight I'm lifting every few weeks, but that doesn't seem to do much. It's like the muscles just aren't building. Now, I know why ... A difference of 60 percent for muscle mass is astounding!
I tried to find out more -- like if all the women were on the same dosage or brand of the pill, but I don't see it any where.
11I've been on the pill for 15 years, and I certainly have no problem building muscle. In fact, I've always thought I have too much muscle, especially in my legs. My calves & quads make shopping for jeans & boots a challenge.
12I've been on seasonale for three and a half years now. I started doing strength training three days a week for an hour about 18 months ago. It took about 9 months for me to move for 3, 5, and 8 pound weights to 5, 8, and 10 pound weights. I'm stuck on those and I can't get passed 11 push ups in a row. I just thought it was because I'm a small person and I'm not capable of building that much muscle. Now I'm thinkin' otherwise. Doesn't bother me too much. I still look toned and my metabolism is fast enough to keep up with my love of cookies and cake.
I'm guessing the women who have no trouble building muscle naturally have more testosterone.
13I have been on Loestrin for the past year and a half and I don't have difficulty with toning my body and building muscle mass. I am actually in much better shape than I was before I was on bcp. Now whether this actually correlates with taking bcp, I really doubt it. It is just like the theory that birth control makes you gain weight, which if I'm not mistaken has been proven wrong. I am assuming, like many studies, this one is highly subjective. Ahh the many pros and cons of taking oral contraceptives...
14I've been on Yaz for nearly 2 years and have walked more this year than any year. I have had no problem toning and gaining muscle in my legs and thighs, where I felt I needed it.
15Please don't take this as any kind of gospel. While interesting, this is a tiny study, and the info above doesn't really quantify the difference in muscle mass gained (ie, 60 percent of WHAT?). Interestingly, different combined hormonal contraceptive formulations are rather different in their effects on testosterone in particular. If you are concerned about losing muscle mass, you may want to ask your doctor about trying a different type/brand. But the ones that have high testosterone effect may also aggravate acne and some other stuff, so talk to your doctor about risks/benefits.
16i'm on Cileste and built leg muscles just from walking
so i guess this doesn't apply
to everyone and as someone mentioned above it all depends on the exact pill.
17inLissy, you bring up a good point -- which I'd love to see FitSugar tackle. No matter how long you weight lift or try to move up -- does everyone hit a "wall" at some point whereby they cannot lift any more? I mean, I know humans have physical limitations on muscle mass when it comes to power lifting, but for those of us who work out regularly for years, will we all reach some point where we can't lift more than 10 or 15 pounds for some moves, no matter how hard we try?
18I've never had a problem...this research seems pretty general to be jumping to conclusions. Not that I've been hearing great things about birth control lately...
19Oh lord, their are pros and cons to everything these days, just have to live with it.
20The Dr Max Powers Anabolic Stack is the most effective product ive tried, I used1 stack pack (pack of pills) per day for exactly 4 weeks.
For the first week nothing really different happened to me just felt jittery during the day but then week two rolled around and that was when things started to be noticed. So here I am at the end of the cycle, last pills were taken yesterday and im about 14lbs heavier and alot stronger.
I recommend this to anyone wanting a bit of a jolt with stuborn plateus. Ofcourse its not a miracle pill, you have to go hard when at the gym, get good recovery time and eat sensibly.
I plan on doing another cycle in a month or so. Unlike other pro-hormones, and testosterone boosters, that make you feel you’re just swallowing thin air packaged in plastic, this stuff actually works, from power to lift to mind aggression it works.
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