Once you stop taking birth control, you may notice that you drop a pound or two within a few weeks as fluid retention decreases, but it is unlikely that you will lose a substantial amount of weight, if any at all.
Women who used a progestin-only type (like injections, hormonal IUDs, or certain pills) may have gained a few pounds, so the scale might go down when they stop using them. If you want to lose weight, though, you'll probably get more results from a better diet and more exercise than from going off your birth control.
Weight: The birth control pill is considered weight-neutral. Most people do not gain or lose weight on it, and those who do often see the gains or losses replaced in the same amount when they stop taking the pill.
After stopping birth control, it is normal for the body to experience some changes. One of these changes is an increase in PMS-related symptoms, including bloating. This bloating is a direct result of increased water retention; in many cases, this increased retention leads to weight gain.
However, the one birth control method that has been shown to cause true weight gain is the Depo-Provera injection. Around 38% of people using Depo-Provera in clinical trials gained over 10 lbs in the first 2 years of treatment.
The estrogen in the pill can make some people feel bloated. This can make you feel as if you weigh more even if you don't. But this effect typically goes away.
Potential side effects include bloating, breast tenderness, and weight gain. In addition, some women may experience depression or mood swings, side effects that may influence a woman's decision to start taking an oral contraceptive (OC), particularly if she has a history of depression.
There are studies that have shown the pill can lead to lower muscle mass and strength gains—and, by extension, a slower metabolism. The fastest way to bump your metabolism is to build muscle, but birth control can definitely mess with those #gymgoals.
Though large-scale reviews haven't found that the pill causes weight gain, it can change a woman's body shape and composition. There are three big reasons for this, and they have to do with muscle, fluid retention, and fat.
There's been a lot of research on common birth control side effects. And studies show that the pill, the ring, the patch, and the IUD don't make you gain weight or lose weight.
It's rare, but some women do gain a little bit of weight when they start taking birth control pills. It's often a temporary side effect that's due to fluid retention, not extra fat.
Treatments for Post-Birth-Control Syndrome
Symptoms will eventually resolve on their own once your hormone levels even out. That happens within a month or two for many women, but it can take up to six months. There is no quick fix other than going back on hormonal birth control.
Some women experience gastrointestinal side effects when taking the birth control pill including nausea, bloating and altered bowel pattern. This could be a sign that there is an imbalance in the gut microbiome, known as dysbiosis.
Unfortunately, there are no birth control methods that actively cause weight loss. However, certain birth control options, such as the birth control pill called Yasmin, have diuretic properties, which may cause you to lose water weight (Apter, 2017).
Best Birth Control Pill for Weight Loss
The birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin, however, contain a hormone called drospirenone. This hormone acts as a diuretic, so some users may experience less water retention than other birth control options or may lose a few pounds.
Sometimes, excess fat around the belly is due to hormones. Hormones help regulate many bodily functions, including metabolism, stress, hunger, and sex drive. If a person has a deficiency in certain hormones, it may result in weight gain around the abdomen, which is known as a hormonal belly.
How long does period weight gain last? Don't worry—assuming the weight gain is just temporary water retention, your weight should return to normal soon. “Water weight usually goes away about three to five days after your period starts,” says Dr. Landry.
What's more, while some women experience negative mood changes on the pill, some women experience the opposite reaction. They feel a whole lot better and mentally healthier on the pill than off it.
Post-pill side effects are often similar to those right before a period, and may include cramps, bloating and mood swings – but keep in mind that these can be more intense than your average PMS episode on the pill. Some women also develop pregnancy-like symptoms, such as nausea and breast tenderness.
The body has its own detoxification system. When a person stops taking hormonal birth control pills, all of this medication leaves the body within a few days to a week. Therefore, individuals do not need to take any additional supplements or drugs for this process to occur.