Many times when a health personnel tries to counsel patients on oral contraceptive pills (OCP), they face many excuses in refusing that method but particularly, patients are afraid of weight gain. In fact, this fear comes from those who are in the medical profession themselves. As disappointing as it sounds, is it a fact or it is actually a faux?
Oral contraceptive pills have been on the market for more than 50 years. It is one of the most easily available, cheap and easy methods of contraception and with proper use may reach up to 99% effectiveness. Mind you there’s no 100% way of preventing you from getting pregnant unless you abstain from sexual activity or have had your womb removed, 99% is your best shot in family planning.
So, where did this idea that contraceptive pills make you fat come about? It is more of a mother to daughter stories and from random people’s horror experience from its use but none has been proven scientifically. Rather than blaming their sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, poor OCP get its bad name as the main contributor.
Even so, it is a totally understandable assumption given that progesterone, one of the hormones in combined preparation of OCP, may cause bloatedness that some may confuse as weight gain, as well as dizziness and breast tenderness. These symptoms are however dependant on the body response to certain types of progestrogen hormone that may promote these effects. So not everyone will respond in the same way.
Previously, it was the estrogen content in OCP that was blamed for weight gain. This is entirely not true as the hormone itself is actually a metabolism enhancer. It increases the body metabolism, which in turn will make your body burn fat faster. Estrogen preparations however have been reduced in the recent newer COCP in reducing its potential side effects of clotting your blood that may lead to heart attacks and stroke. So instead of causing you to become fatter, it should do the opposite.
So in terms of fearing the pills for weight gain reasons, do not be. If you are worried about weight gain, you might just need to rethink of your current lifestyle again. There might be some area that needs to be improved there rather than blaming the pills.
Major (Dr) Che Hasnura is an Obsteatric & Gynaecology specialist who has also served in overseas missions. Find out more about her at The Team page.
[This article belongs to The Malaysian Medical Gazette. Any republication (online or offline) without written permission from The Malaysian Medical Gazette is prohibited.]