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Birth Control Pills and Weight Gain 

Contraceptives are used by woman who don’t want to become pregnant and they want to maintain their sexuality. Usually contraceptives are 98% effective, though, there are woman who don’t want to use them due to the side effects such as weight gain. It is no surprise that body image is a priority for some woman, so talking about weight gain is something that must be talked a bit more when talking about which contraceptive to use.  

This article talks about some of the rumors and reasons why it is not all completely true nor all completely wrong. First, a huge contributing factor is the lifestyle of the person and genetics. For example, some women experience weight gain differently than others, as others are more prone to it. In that case some women might not consider using birth controls at all. Second, birth control pills cause water retention because the estrogen from the birth control pills activate certain compounds from the kidneys that promote water retention. Doctors say that taking a low amount of 20 mcg can helps mediate weight gain, but sometimes that is not enough and there aren’t lower dosages to prevent furthermore this side effect.  

The positive thing is that weight gain can be controlled if a low carbohydrates diet and exercise is implemented as a life style. There are other ways to reduce water retention, but those can be the most effective. Another solution is to try other forms of contraceptives such as the IUD. The IUD is as reliable as a regular birth control pill, but without jeopardizing your body chemistry. After all, it is about what works the best for your own body to help you get the results you want.  

The best thing to do when debating what direction to take, talk to you doctor about your concerns and about the different contraceptives to take. Also, it is good to mention the lifestyle that you have so you can pick a contraceptive that fits accordingly.  

 

Written by: Brisa Rodriguez Alcantar 

Reference: https://www.birthcontrol.com/does-birth-control-cause-weight-gain/