Birth Control Pills and Muscle Gains

[-ATHENA-]

I know this may come across as a weird/stupid question but I was actually wondering about this..

Would the estrogen in birth control affect muscle gain? I know I've heard that it can have effects on fat loss (due to more sugar cravings) but if I took a birth control pill an hour or so after leaving the gym, would it affect my gains? Should I wait to take it until later on in the afternoon?

I know this is kind of a weird question but I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any studies that have been done on this.

[Atheena]

Hey someone else with the same name as me just different spelling!

[imperfectly_lou]

It wouldn't matter whether you took it morning or evening as the hormones are designed to stay in your body.

I'm sure there have been studies on this and the main reason I believe why it may affect muscle gains is due to the increase in progesterone in the body. For me personally, I was on the Pill for nearly 10 years, and I am also an ecto so I had an extremely hard time building muscle. Since I had a Mirena inserted last November, I have gained more muscle than my previous 5 years of training. Coincidence perhaps... who knows...

[EnigmaPower]

Originally Posted by Atheena

Hey someone else with the same name as me just different spelling!

Two goddesses of wisdom...it's so confusing

[MuscleMan009]

I'm no expert on BC, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have a direct effect during your workout, but in your system it may.

Estrogen is known to cause an increase in fat gain, so that's definately a possibility.

As for muscle gain, it won't have any effect.

[Chef K-Lo]

Originally Posted by imperfectly_lou

It wouldn't matter whether you took it morning or evening as the hormones are designed to stay in your body.

I'm sure there have been studies on this and the main reason I believe why it may affect muscle gains is due to the increase in progesterone in the body. For me personally, I was on the Pill for nearly 10 years, and I am also an ecto so I had an extremely hard time building muscle. Since I had a Mirena inserted last November, I have gained more muscle than my previous 5 years of training. Coincidence perhaps... who knows...

I had the same experience... was on the pill for 10 years then switched to Mirena. I have always gained strength and muscle fairly easily, but about a month after switching the increase was significant.

I wish I had ditched the pill years ago...

[MuscleMan009]

That's odd.

Theoretically estrogen and progesterone shouldn't have any effect on strength and muscle gains as that is effected by testosterone. But what do I know, I'm just a guy.

[imperfectly_lou]

Originally Posted by =]

That's odd.

Theoretically estrogen and progesterone shouldn't have any effect on strength and muscle gains as that is effected by testosterone. But what do I know, I'm just a guy.

From my limited endocrinology knowledge, progesterone and test are somehow linked...

[zakkala]

Originally Posted by imperfectly_lou

From my limited endocrinology knowledge, progesterone and test are somehow linked...

Yep, think you're right - Depo Provera which is a progeserone only BC is also used (in a different dose - I hope!) to chemically castrate sex offenders, so I'm guessing that's because it somehow 'neutralises' testosterone.

Would think the amount in BC (progesterone only or combined) should have minimal effect, but I haven't read anything about it - might have to investigate.

[Atheena]

I have been on birth control (ortho tri cyclen) for 5 years this January and I have absolutely NO trouble putting on muscle! Are you sure that you are lifting heavy enough?

[-ATHENA-]

I put on muscle really really fast too.. my birth control has a different form of progesterone in it, though.. because progesterone makes my moods swing off the walls!!

I was just wondering because Soy protein always markets itself saying "non-estrogenic" when it's a fitness product.. and I've read articles (who knows how spot on these were, though) saying that one should lower estrogen when wanting to build lots of muscle.

I don't mind lots of estrogen.. it's part of what makes me a woman... just wondering if there was any info on this because I would switch to a lower dose pill, if it affected my workouts adversely.

[Chef K-Lo]

Originally Posted by =]

That's odd.

Theoretically estrogen and progesterone shouldn't have any effect on strength and muscle gains as that is effected by testosterone. But what do I know, I'm just a guy.

It has something to do with Sex Hormone Binding Globulin...

I don't have time right now to look up whatever it is I'm talking about but if someone else wants to, go for it...

[EnigmaPower]

Originally Posted by Chef K-Lo

It has something to do with Sex Hormone Binding Globulin...

I don't have time right now to look up whatever it is I'm talking about but if someone else wants to, go for it...

Graduate of the Designer Supplements School of Muscle?

[mavrick77]

ok, i know I am not female, and some will blow me right off....but thoose of you who dont I might be able to help. I have over 15 years of experience, and am fairly intelligent when it comes to hormones...

as for estrogen in women, no this will not cause lack in muscle gains, actually part of the muscle gains men get from testosterone are heightened by estrogen, because of the extra water retention...

now lets go into fat loss, there is no doubt that estrogen will interfere with fat loss, not only due to cravings, but because the body is trying to hold onto fat. one thing about the pill, is it fools the body into thinking your prego...so hence it will want to keep your fat stores high. the best bet is to experiment with differnt pills..some with estrogen only, some with estrogen/progesterone combo.... we have finallly found one that doesnt interfere too much with my gf's training, its callled YAZ its a low dose estrogen, progesterone combo, that also has a diuretic in it to fight water retention. however, it is more expensive, even with our prescription coverage it is 25 a month, her old pill was 5.

I hope this helps....

P.S. also try taking a few potasium pills everyday in the morning and at night, this will help with water retention as well.

[kaylabree]

i was curious about the same subject, here's a link that i found:


http://www.figureathlete.com/readArticle.do?id=1894881

[Chef K-Lo]

Originally Posted by EnigmaPower

Graduate of the Designer Supplements School of Muscle?

Excuse me?

[-ATHENA-]

Originally Posted by Chef K-Lo

It has something to do with Sex Hormone Binding Globulin...

I don't have time right now to look up whatever it is I'm talking about but if someone else wants to, go for it...

I can look that up on my own time. Thanks a bunch

Originally Posted by mavrick77

ok, i know I am not female, and some will blow me right off....but thoose of you who dont I might be able to help. I have over 15 years of experience, and am fairly intelligent when it comes to hormones...

as for estrogen in women, no this will not cause lack in muscle gains, actually part of the muscle gains men get from testosterone are heightened by estrogen, because of the extra water retention...

now lets go into fat loss, there is no doubt that estrogen will interfere with fat loss, not only due to cravings, but because the body is trying to hold onto fat. one thing about the pill, is it fools the body into thinking your prego...so hence it will want to keep your fat stores high. the best bet is to experiment with differnt pills..some with estrogen only, some with estrogen/progesterone combo.... we have finallly found one that doesnt interfere too much with my gf's training, its callled YAZ its a low dose estrogen, progesterone combo, that also has a diuretic in it to fight water retention. however, it is more expensive, even with our prescription coverage it is 25 a month, her old pill was 5.

I hope this helps....

P.S. also try taking a few potasium pills everyday in the morning and at night, this will help with water retention as well.

Awesome info, thanks!!

Also, 25 a month is still pretty good for BC pills I would think. Mine is a bit over 40 a month and I know several girls who pay around 30.. Birth control is expensive..

Originally Posted by kaylabree

i was curious about the same subject, here's a link that i found:


http://www.figureathlete.com/readArticle.do?id=1894881

Thanks for the link! I think the author was a little misguided in some places (ie: more Testosterone causes clearer skin? I think NOT!! That's why birth control pills clear the skin and some guys taking anabolic steroids break out to the enth degree) so I'm not sure of the validity of the entire article.. but it was an interesting read.. and thank you for your find!!!

[Atheena]

With insurance mine is $30 and without it's almost $50. The YAZ doesn't sound like a bad idea but I have just been on mine for 5 years and with something that could be life changing (ie getting prego, which I know I don't want anymore kids) if it's not broke don't bother fixing it.

[EnigmaPower]

Originally Posted by Chef K-Lo

Excuse me?

DS at times pushes the concept of SHBG on women. Don't get me wrong, women have SHBG and the muscle/SHBG connection is there but it is indirect and caused by the lowering or SHBG and the resultant raising of free test which is mostly because the SHBG is not taking test from the bloodstream and depositing it in the prostate (last time I checked, women don't have prostates).