Birth Control and Weight Loss

[kodiacat]

So today after having a conversation with a co-worker about how much weight I have lost. She made a comment that I should be careful if I am on any kind of birth control, because losing a lot of weight causes your hormones to change, and can make your birth control less effective. 0_0 This kind of worried me, even more because this week I've had a bit of pregnant paranoai(Not unusual for me). So of course I'm having a panicky moment. I don't expect a period for another 1 and a half weeks. My cycle is kind of weird, so I could just be having early pms. Anyways, but has anyone else heard that losing weight can cause the pill to be less effective? I searched google, but wasn't very helpful. Lots of info about those with PCOS being able to conceive after losing weight, and weight gain on the pill. Just looking for something reasuring with people with more experience than me. I'm probably going to schedule an appointment with my OBY GYN soon anyway as it is about that time for my yearly anyway.

~Becca

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Don't worry! I've been on BC pills for years - lost and gained and lost weight so many times I've lost count - and nope - no kids yet! lol.

Plus - I'm also on Metformin for my Insulin Resistance (my BC is yasmine) - and Metformin is also used to help women with PCOS and not on the bc pill to ovulate more so that they can HAVE a normal period in order to ovulate better and have a kid...and even with the Metformin - my BC pill still stands steady.

One thing, though - just to "warn" you about...one thing I've personally experienced going low-carb is that your body will produce more estrogen than normal and it is possible to have break-through bleeding the second week of your period (it's almost like I've got two a month now - it sucks!!!!) but the "break-through" one is very light - just annoying.

As far as pregnancy scares though - if you're REALLY worried then I'd just use extra cautions (such as condoms)...just sayin'.

[Elizellen]

If I recollect correctly we have in the past had a few members who did conceive after losing weight and still taking birth control pills, so she might be correct.

[kodiacat]

Thank you guys. I feel better today. I think I was just being a bit paranoid yesterday. I am going to go to the doctor soon for my yearly so I can ask her about it. If I start getting paranoid again, I can always as was suggested use more protection.

It is good to see that someone who has been on this woe for a while and also on the pill has not ended up pregnant. I'm using generic yasmin(ocella) for bc. And thanks for the tip about the break through bleeding. So far that has happened to me, but now I'm prepared in case it does.

Maybe for those that have ended up pregnant it was merely a coincidence. *shrug "Correlation does not imply causation" lol I hope so.

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Originally Posted by kodiacat

Thank you guys. I feel better today. I think I was just being a bit paranoid yesterday. I am going to go to the doctor soon for my yearly so I can ask her about it. If I start getting paranoid again, I can always as was suggested use more protection.

It is good to see that someone who has been on this woe for a while and also on the pill has not ended up pregnant. I'm using generic yasmin(ocella) for bc. And thanks for the tip about the break through bleeding. So far that has happened to me, but now I'm prepared in case it does.

Maybe for those that have ended up pregnant it was merely a coincidence. *shrug "Correlation does not imply causation" lol I hope so.

Sorry - I shoulda mentioned I use the generic form (Ocella) as well.

plus - and NOT to worry you by any means - but there are women thick and thin...who - on the pill HAVE gotten pregnant - but that's the whole 1% chance that BCpills warn you about. lol

As for the breakthrough bleeding - for me it's pretty constant. I did go to the doc about it and she even said the same thing i read on the 'net...low-carb diets will get you to produce more estrogen and thus you'll have break through bleeding. it's a pain - but at least now i know i'm not going crazy!