Birth control pills & weight.... - Page 2

smdiskin · 03-21-2007, 02:42 AM

Hi
I was on the pill for 13 years... literally just came off it a month ago... simply because I hadn't been organised enough to bring a supply from the UK when I moved here to Botswana... I'm sure I can get it here... but whether I can get the one I was on I don't know.... anyway....
I was on Minulet... and it was great.... I didn't put on weight when I started and haven't lost any coming off... it did affect the libido a bit though, but not much.... for me it was great... I had a 32-35 day cycle with a 9-10 day bleed (heavy) extreme pain in the run up to it and for about 3 weeks of every month my skin felt sensitive/burnt to the touch... so when I went on it, it was wonderful, a 28 day cycle, a 3 day bleed, only 1 day of pain, some tiredness in the run up to it, and as long as I didn't run 2 packets into each other... so as not to have a bleed... it was fine.... if I did that it was 3 weeks of total discomfort...
My husband is away at the moment and will be for another 2 months, so contraception in the meanwhile is not an issue and I can see how I get on...
All the best...
S

jazzyfizzle · 03-21-2007, 09:59 AM

[QUOTE=enforcerlady;28366421]Has anyone had a good experience with any particular brand of pill?

I just recently switched from Ortho Cyclen to Aviane which is the lowest dose of birth control. I wanted to first try a lower dose and see what would happen instead of getting it off completely. I have noticed a significant change in my body from switching to a lower does bc. My chest got alot smaller (lost water weight and bloat) and now I am starting to notice the cellulite going away on the back of my legs. I have not really altered my diet or exercise so I am attributing the changes to getting on a lower dose of bc. It was not immediate, I have been on the new dose for an entire cycle now, but am happy with how things are going. Hope this helps!

gemsey · 03-22-2007, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terracotta

MauiZos - FWIW, Depo is bad news in general. It HAS been proven to cause weight gain. It can lead to irreversible osteoporosis, etc etc. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, and it is good you are off of it.

To the OP. Well, its up you. I wouldn't give mine up except for pregnancy. Everyone reacts differently on and off the pills.

I can't go on the pills as I'm prone to headaches, so I was put on the Depo, but I have decided to come off because of the osteoporosis, someone is actualy shocked they allow young women to use it because of that!

GREENFEATHER · 03-24-2007, 03:30 AM

M was on the pill for 20 years. In 2003 we decided that she needed to get off them, we both were gaining weight and her libido was in the tank. That's not a good thing for me, I have a natural test level in the upper 800-1000 ng/dl so no sex is NOT an option, lol!

I got snipped that January and we haven't looked back. I know that's not an option for you younger folks, but look into IUD's before you use hormonal BC pills.

katyloyal · 03-27-2007, 12:30 PM

I am currently on "Aviane" after having had a bad side affect to a stronger form many years ago.

I've been on this one for a few years on and off now and there really hasn't been any significant change (due to the pill) in my appearance or mood. The one advantage I like being on it for is my periods are A LOT less painful and I bleed a lot less.

mamafitness · 03-28-2007, 07:05 PM

well ladies I have finally got up the nerve to change to a lower dose pill. I am going to try Ortho Tri low. I am excited to change. I am hoping I will see a change in weight, if not I am looking forward to finding my libido again!!! I will start my new pill on Sunday so we'll see what happens!

BFIT · 03-30-2007, 04:47 PM

So far so good...have never felt better and looked better since getting off the pill. I have received many comments about how my body is rapidly transforming from a lot of people including my trainer. Just wanted to update anyone who is interested in the progress I have made.

**I am concerned as to what form of Birth control other than condoms can be used....anyone have any suggestions.....

**I am not advocating that everyone should go off the pill...this is simply my story about it.....mind you I train really hard 5-6 days a week.

NGR8SHAPE · 03-30-2007, 05:28 PM

Hey Bfit
Its awesome that you got off of the pill. You'll see remarkable transformation in time to come. I was on the pill for 11 years, since I was 14! Yeah I know... young...... For 2 years I was in your spot, training really hard and not seeing tons of results. My nutitionist, trainer, former BB's all said you need to get off that pill. So I am nearing a year off of the pill, and I have been through alot of ups and downs. My body reacted as I was on menopause. Night sweats, gained 10 lbs, periods cycles all messed up, became lactose intolerant and gluten sensitive. After about 6 months my body started getting back to normal. But it has taught me alot about myself and what taking care of myself means to me. My cycles are shorter than when I was on, I get less cramps, less moody, less fatigued, higher libido!!

Getting off of it was the best decision I did for myself. It forced me to get serious about my training and diet. Thats what led me to hire Emma-Leigh, and that is how I've made progress. Congrats HUN!! You'll be happy that you did!

ANd I use the FemCap..... NON HORMONAL!!!!!!!!!!!!

Advice to other gals questioning that decison..... Being off the pill makes you be in charge of your sex life. It will make you question every man you choose to sleep with, and if he's worth getting pregnant over if something were to happen. It puts the power in your hands. Being on the pill, I never thought twice about whom I slept with because, "Hey, I'm on the pill". As any woman serious about their fitness, you should think about even getting on it. I wish I hadnt even gotten on. Be proud of being of the pill. I am

ChickenTuna · 03-30-2007, 08:03 PM

I can't do hormonal, I was on the pill in 1987 (pic in my profile) and it made my entire body swollen and puffy looking, along with severe crankiness and mood swings, so haven't been on it since.

Question... what guy would take a pill that made him miserable 24/7/365 so sex would be better for you??

perfectanjail · 03-30-2007, 08:22 PM

any more ladies use the mirena? what have ur experiences been?

ajferr · 03-30-2007, 10:35 PM

Isnt anyone scared about having children? I am taking Yasmin, ive heard this does not cause weight gain. Anyone take this?

NGR8SHAPE · 03-31-2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajferr

Isnt anyone scared about having children? I am taking Yasmin, ive heard this does not cause weight gain. Anyone take this?

Yeah I was on Yasmin .... I still to this day, do not plan on having kids. But I make sure I take every necessary step to not get pregnant. Hormones are hormones are hormones whether you get it in low doses, by pill, by patch, by IUD whatever. Read up Hun..... educate yourself about it...

terracotta · 03-31-2007, 05:02 PM

Educated decisions are good

I'm on Alesse, I've been on it for 7 years with no problems. Meds affect different people differently.

frolik · 04-01-2007, 11:56 PM

Do people have suggestions for nonhormonal, reversible methods of BC?? I've heard an IUD is irreversible, and while I do want kids, I certainly don't want them now, and I can't take the pill due to the increased risk of breast cancer (given family history, I'm practically guaranteed to get breast cancer and can't afford to up my risk any more.) Condoms aren't 100% effective, obviously.

1stladyj · 04-02-2007, 01:00 AM

I am glad I came across this. I am on Yasmin and it has made my life HELL! I have gained 40 lbs over the course of maybe 3- 4 years and always look pregnant. I have also became lactose intolerant and am constantly an emtional wreck. I plan to come off this month to see what happens. I have been wondering why my stomach is soooooooooo big and bloated even after months of good diet and tons of exercise? Hopefully this will help so that I can live a better life. I know things are getting to bad when I've been considering plastic surgery-

BFIT · 04-02-2007, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajferr

Isnt anyone scared about having children? I am taking Yasmin, ive heard this does not cause weight gain. Anyone take this?

YES!!! WE ARE!!! that is why we have this post! We want to try to see what everyone else has tried and what has worked or not......and YES being off the pill has been GREAT for me....and it certainly makes you more aware about the decisions you make. When someone(like myself and others in my shoes) have been training SO MUCH and have been VERY dedicated and yet do not budge for one, two, or whatever # of years, there comes a time when you just have to make a decision(to get off the pill)....so ...for those who are curious...WE are not running around wild...being careless...trying to get pregnant......WE SIMPLY WANT TO SEE CHANGE IN OUR BODIES..W/O HORMONES!!!!

BFIT · 04-10-2007, 01:50 AM

^ bump..anyone any clues on BC? Looking for alternatives....

terracotta · 04-10-2007, 10:50 AM

http://www.4woman.gov/faq/birthcont.htm

I'd say the Mirena IUD is the best choice. It is hormonal, but just progestin, so it will not cause weight gain. The second best choice would be a combination of a diaphragm and a condom.

absolutelove · 04-10-2007, 10:56 AM

in that article it says something about a mini-pill which only contains progestin...wouldnt this also not cause weight gain then?

katyloyal · 05-13-2007, 01:29 AM

I find it awkward that I had an earlier post stating that "Aviane" was okay for me, and now all of the sudden, I have also come to the conclusion that I need to get off the pill for good. My reasons why? New symptoms:

- anxiety/panic attacks at night (I even had an incident where I woke up so terrified, that I leapt out of bed and crawled across the room)

- nose bleeds (I had this happen a while back and blamed the weather, but have been getting them again and am second-guessing that theory)

- nauseu (since I started school, which has cut back my sleep time, I find that reduced hours causing me to have morning nauseu on a frequent basis)

- severe headaches (had them years ago when starting this pill, but they are coming back again)

- night sweats (I've been waking up for the past few days feeling drenched)

This brand is low-dose birth control anyways, so my conclusion is that if my body can't even handle that, I need to go off it completely. I know that the dreaded word "condom" is almost non-existent as far as sexuality goes, but frankly I am fed up. Why should I keep suffering through this just because a condom doesn't feel great for the guy? Besides, birth control isn't going to prevent STDs.

I am going to suck it up, go off the pill, buy condoms and get on with my transformation!!

Sorry about the rant

jolyn421 · 05-14-2007, 06:36 AM

I was on birth control for 13 years and decided to stop and have my tubes tied, that was a year ago. Since then I have gained 20lbs and can't get it off. I will be going to see an endocrinologist in a couple of weeks to see if they can find anything screwy with my hormones. Not sure if it is from stopping the birth control or getting my tubes tied or both. If anyone has any feedback on this I would appreciate it. If I had to do it all over again I would have tried going off the pill before getting my tubes tied and looked at other options. I just knew I didn't want kids and the Dr. assured me there wouldn't be any problems from the surgery, well look at me know.

tormed · 05-15-2007, 02:26 PM

I was on birth control pills since 18, then last 8 years or so on Depo. About 1 year ago I decided to stop the Depo and get "snipped". I know for sure I do not want any kids. While I was on the pill and on Depo, I never really noticed any side-effects, but boy what a difference when I got off. I felt so much better all over, and the "drive" came back as well :-)
I was looking into several alternatives when getting off, and for us the decision was to make 100% sure, and I didn't mind being the one doing it. Worked out perfectly. I'm very happy I did.

Jamie M · 05-15-2007, 02:58 PM

I stopped mine in October.
Pros- can wear contacts(pills were making me have difficulty wearing them), seem to be getting more results, don't have to worry about taking it.
Cons- semi-unpredictable periods, cramps

pitmommy · 05-15-2007, 03:23 PM

Personally I feel the pill is harmful to women. Its a major cause of breast cancer, depression, suicide,divorce and weighgain. There are other methods of birth control. You will look and feel better off BC. I lost fifteen pounds immediately. I did not have mood swings and once I started really lifting on a routine my periods were normal and light.

Good Luck

rhbrand · 05-19-2007, 02:19 PM

I'm glad I found this thread. DH and I are really thinking of getting one of us "fixed" and me going off the pill. We've got 3 kids, and are 100% sure we're done!

I'm hoping when we do decide which one gets the surgery, that I see a nice change in my body after going off the pill.

Jessica Bella · 08-15-2007, 11:46 AM

I haven't had ANY experience positive with Birth Control until I started on NuvaRing. I LOVE it. You don't have to worry about a pill every day at the same time, you don't feel it (even during sex), & I have had ZERO side effects. Almost all the side effects my friends have had were because of either the patch or the pill. I whole-heartedly recommend the Ring. I am actually losing weight since being on it, as well, but that is because I am also more active than I used to be. Either way, I'm a hell of a lot hotter than I was in high school, and I don't worry about breakouts, breakthough bleeding, cramping, long periods, or anything else. Most of all pregnancy.

I'm sorry girls, but I just can't imagine being off birth control. Two girls I know plus my cousin tried the "ovulation" thing, and guess what...all of them ended up pregnant...my cousin twice. I just don't trust it.

Emzy17 · 08-16-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enforcerlady

I was on the pill for a few years back when I was in high school. I didn't have any problem with weight gain, but I swear the pill made me crazy. It also couldn't control my periods and I'd have two per month instead of one. They kept upping the dose of hormones and I just got crankier and more emotional. I seriously though I was losing my mind..

i am also on the bith control pill. i havent noticed much weight gain apart from some bloatedness now and then. however, it does make my emotions go all over the place. it makes me so emotional and when it comes to period time and you have a week break, my emotions are even worse and i find i get angry very easily or upset for no reason around this time

JoeST · 08-18-2007, 03:47 PM

This is actually joes wife, not joe posting this lol! I literally just had an IUD put in for all the above reasons, but mine is paragard. It has no hormones , just copper. It is also good for 10 years! I hope it works as well as they promise since it was absolute torture having it inserted......

TinaC · 08-18-2007, 10:49 PM

I have been on Ortho-Tri Cycln (pill) for over 5 yrs now so I am not really sure if it has had any negative side affects on me..BUT I have not had much of a sex drive in the past 3 years (bad for my husband) and I was wondering if it could be related to the pill. I experience dryness a lot. I read that many of the women who posted on this forum got their libido back when they got off the pill. I do NOT want kids for a few more years so I was planning to stay on the pill, but if getting off will give me more sex drive than I am willing to try it. Also, has anyone had anymore of a sex drive with switching to a lower dosage of BC? That may be a better option....

gfundaro · 08-19-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TinaC

I have been on Ortho-Tri Cycln (pill) for over 5 yrs now so I am not really sure if it has had any negative side affects on me..BUT I have not had much of a sex drive in the past 3 years (bad for my husband) and I was wondering if it could be related to the pill. I experience dryness a lot. I read that many of the women who posted on this forum got their libido back when they got off the pill. I do NOT want kids for a few more years so I was planning to stay on the pill, but if getting off will give me more sex drive than I am willing to try it. Also, has anyone had anymore of a sex drive with switching to a lower dosage of BC? That may be a better option....

Yea, it can decrease libido and increase dryness (and if you think about it, the two are related). I of course don't want kids, and I'm probably the most worrisome person I know, so going off the pill would likely maim and kill my libido. So for now, I do things that get my libido going when it matters (and my bf does too), and if need be, we just use lube. He knows I care for him and think he's sexy, and my slight lack of 'go-get-him' is just because of the pill and the fact that I'm not thinking about sex 24/7. Different doses of BC don't make a huge amount of difference from what I've seen, except that lower progesterone levels don't prevent breakthrough bleeding as well as higher doses (I'm currently having 2 periods a month lol). So that's something to keep in mind when talking to your doc.