Surely among your friends there are examples of how taking the OCP led to overweight. What is the reason for this and should those who are planning to start hormonal contraception be concerned? We talked to Natalia Fedorenko, a nutritionist at FoodEx, about a hot topic for women.
Being overweight was one of the most common side effects of taking “old generation” birth control pills, which contain twice as much estrogen as modern drugs. Women’s metabolism was disturbed, leading to the accumulation of abdominal fat (around the abdomen). Currently, it has been possible to minimize the effect of OCPs on metabolism by reducing hormone doses.
Can modern microdosed contraceptive pills, which do not contain any calories, upset us at the next weigh-in?
Retention of excess fluid in the body
The progesterone hormone analog contained in any oral contraceptive contributes to a slight retention of fluid in the body. For example, the appearance of edema during pregnancy is associated with progesterone. Weight gain of no more than 1-4 kg while taking OCPs is mostly excess fluid.
Increased appetite + impaired carbohydrate metabolism
Unfortunately, any birth control pill increases appetite, which is the main cause of weight gain. It has already been proven that women have elevated blood insulin levels and decreased glucose tolerance due to prolonged use of birth control pills. This can lead to hormonal disorders and diabetes.
In addition to the possible risk of weight gain, OCs increase the risk of thrombosis, urogenital infections, and can cause migraines and psychosis.
From all of the above, we can draw the following conclusion: before you start using hormonal contraception for the first time, you should definitely consult a gynecologist and undergo all the necessary examinations, including breast and pelvic examinations.
