NWR: Anyone NOT gain weight on birth control???

I should also mention that I am able to lose weight as well. I lost 10 pounds in 5 weeks over winter break last year with dieting and exercise.

Never gained an ounce...n took them for years.....

I actually started on yaz about 3 years ago because i was diagnosed with PCOS. it was hard at first, because some of the cysts popped and they were painful and i actually was more prone to get UTIs, but once all the hormones settled down i stayed pretty skinny...until about a year and a half after i was on it, i had a really weird reaction to it while at work. for like a week straight i literally couldn't keep my eyes open at work (i actually got reprimanded because of it), i got light headed, i felt sick, then i lost a lot of blood. my iron isn't super great anyway but once i called my obgyn she told me to immediately discontinued it. turns out it was messing with my potassium levels and was making me crazy. i started taking loestrin 24fe and gained some weight, more notably in the last 8 months or so. where i could eat anything i wanted and only excercise a little, now i just have a mini spare tire and extra storage in my thighs because of insurance and in the interest of saving..

...money, my obgyn switched me to the generic version, which is almost what you're taking now (microgestin 1/20 fe). i haven't gained any weight but i'm not losing any, either. of course i'm just also lazy, lol. i wouldn't worry too much about weight gain, and i would start taking it before the big night just because you WILL need a backup form of BC while your body is getting used to the pill.

I've been on the pill (Estrostep for the most part) for 8 years. Never gained a pound.

I didn't. I've been on two different pills..for me I gained like 10 pounds i want to shed to be more toned due to 1. the fact I'm not 18 anymore LOL. (27) so my Italian genes are kicking in. and 2) I've been eating more junk since my then FH now DS moved in..and I"ve been exercising less..so we are changing that 2nd part since we can't turn back the hands of time :-P

But one of my doctors had told me that the weight gain is basically a myth on the pill, that people often use it as an excuse, but key to keeping it off is staying active and eating right.

Also I'm thinking the weight gain thing may be what we all heard in high school when our hormones are out of wack anyways, which may cause younger girls to gain weight on it (I didn't start the pills til I was like 20ish or so? I can't really remember exactly.)

I lost weight using Beyaz, after a week of taking it I noticed my appetite was as big as normal. I stopped taking them in July and now I'm on a diet plan to make sure I can fit my dress in 10 days because my weight shot up.

I am taking Implanon and I never gained a pound. Its also good for 3 years, which is good if you are not planning on having babies very soon.

Its an implant that goes into your arm so you do not have to take any pills

On Yasmin, I gained okay more like blew up to 220 lbs from 170 ... went off of it, NEVER lost any weight gained an additional 15 lbs, had to change my diet .... was a moody little witch! Went on Seasonique Lo, lost 10 lbs almost immediatly (contribute to the nausea I felt when I first started) and have now dropped back down to 170 lbs of course I had to change my diet and work out more ...

With the implanon. I have but never did with the pill or if I didn't it wasn't enough to notice.

I did not gain weight but I also watched what I was eatting and was going to the gym almost every day. I think I actually lost weight.

It really depends on the person (as you can tell from the responses you received). I'm sure I don't need to say this, but figured I would just in case... you mentioned that you are planning to start BC after the wedding, so I'm assuming you don't want kids right away... make sure to be careful before you start the BC. My sister got a prescription for BC and was waiting for her next cycle to start the pill... and now I have a nephew - a very cute one at that. I just thought I'd mention it, because you want to be able to enjoy your wedding night and not have to worry about anything unexpected.

I was on the pill for 5 years, never gained any weight. Now I've got Implanon (way way WAY more awesome than the pill!) and still no weight gain - and no periods, no cramps, no bloating, no swollen breasts....I seriously love this little thing in my arm lol

Jamie, one thing you can do is take a look at is how the women in your family's bodies' reacted to different BC. Example: I knew never to get the Depo shot because for all the women in my family who've used that form of BC, they've ALL had serious issues with it.

No I never gained weight on BC, but I did become MOODY! I took seasonal and my boobs became nice and plump! I am 5'2 and 105 so nice boobies were fun! lol. Now, I have a child and I still have about 10lbs of baby weight… Perhaps its because of the bc I can't lose it?!!?

Hi ladies! Thanks so much for weighing in. I really appreciate it.

@Tina-Bo-Bina, it's great advice to consult the other women in my family. My mom never used hormonal BC, but I have a cousin and aunt who both did. If Microgestin doesn't work for me, I'll check to see what forms they used.

@anonymous -- thank you for the cautionary tale. We will definitely be very, very careful before the BC kicks in. I'm hoping it's a few years before we have kids on the way. : )

I was on the Nuva Ring for 2 years, and then ended up getting a blood clot in my leg, which then led to a pulmonary embolism (clot in my lung). Though the Nuva Ring couldn't be the only thing to blame (I am overweight, and I used to smoke) I will not ever use it again.

I can now only use things that don't spit out hormones like crazy, so I have been on Mirena for almost 4 years. I LOVE IT! I have not gained weight, I do not get my period, and only have slight cramps during what I would assume would be my cycle every month. I know it is more of a semi-perm form of birth control, but it worked without a hitch for me. I think as long as you planned to wait for TTC for at least a year its completely worth getting it put in!

@Jamie- it was so scary! I was not uncomfortable with my old weight at all and when I lost that much I panicked. I went to the doctor and had tests done and swore it was my thyroid but everything was negative and they said I was healthy and debunked it as weight loss from going off the pill. Now at 96 pounds I have tried several times to gain weight and nothing works. Everytime I have a physical they tell me I'm completely healthy and just built small.

I did not gain weight on microgestin but I am fairly active. What I didn't like about this pill was the mood swings and lack of desire to be intimate with my fiancé. Not only was a crazy but I never wanted to have sex. It was horrible. Hopefully, it's better for you. Not everyone is the same. Good luck!

@Tiffany, I'm sorry that you had such a severe and adverse reaction. I'm sure that must have been quite traumatic. Im glad you've found something that works for you.

@Lindsay, im so glad that you now know the weight loss wasn't linked to a thyroid issue. But that big of a weight change would be alarming, nonetheless.

@Santana, I'm dreading the potential mood swings. I'm already really moody when I get stressed!