Long-Term Weight Gain When Using Birth Control Shot?
A small study has found women receiving the birth control drug, Depo Provera (depot medroxyprogesterone - DMPA), may see lasting unwanted weight gain.
Depo Provera is a fairly low-cost form of birth control, given by injection every three months.
The study, led by Dr. Abbey Berenson (University of Texas), found that women who gain weight initially after having the shot are likely to continue to do so.
The researchers' findings were published in the journal, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and they looked at 195 women. 51 of the participants put on weight early, gaining over 5 percent of their starting weight in 6 months. The researchers found that these women were likely to continue gaining weight--around 22 pounds in 3 years. The other women involved in the study put on an average of 5.5 pounds over the same time period.
Reuters summarised some of the findings of the study:
Women who were not obese to begin with, as well as those who had already had children, were at relatively higher risk of becoming an early gainer.
Some women reported an increase in appetite soon after starting on the contraceptive, but the study didn't find a correlation between calorie intakes and long-term weight gain. One possibility is that Depo Provera affected certain hormones involved in metabolism.
If you're taking Depo Provera (or a differently-branded form of DMPA), and you experience rapid weight gain in the first 3-6 months, Dr. Berenson advises talking to your doctor about alternative forms of birth control.
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See, now isn't it sad what women have to put themselves through? I can't wait for them to finally come out with male birth control!
ReplyI am past this BUT I like that male birth control idea. Now, will they take it??? Men, would you?
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ReplyI would take male contraception if it was offered and found to be a safe form of contraception.
I used to work with a woman who gained about 100 lbs after going on Depo. She ended up getting gastric bypass surgery to lose the weight. I can't imagine a birth control method contributing THAT much to weight gain, but I suppose some people just are prone to weight gain when they go on contraceptives. I've been on the pill for several years and haven't had any noticeable weight gain...I know they make me retain more water some days of the month, but I can deal with that.
ReplyThere will always be some consequences to your health when you put chemicals into your body. It's so common that drugs fix one problem only to create another!
I've been the Mirena IUD for 8 years and it has not affected my weight. Go the male pill! :)
ReplyI have been on many different types of hormonal birth control methods. All of them I noticed made my personality and body change a lot. I gained weight on every one I tried because of an increase in my appetite and decrease in energy. These findings do not surprise me at all.
ReplyIt was pretty obvious my body did not like me giving it synthetic hormones. I am sexually active and have found the best thing for me is condoms, spermicide (like VCF) and paying attention to my cycle (fertile days).
I honestly don't think its a good idea to inject yourself with synthetic hormones.
where was this website when i first started taking depo?i wish ive known this befor taking depo.i weigh 145 and now is 190
ReplyYeh this birth control ruined my life, and im sure im not alone in that statement. I weighed 145 pounds and started gaining weight rapidly. Even after stopping the shot I still continue to gain weight. I'm now 175 and its discusting! I would DEF. NOT AT ALL recommend this !! Yeh it has some pros, but its not worth all the weight gain!!
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