FAQs

I just started on the Pill today and I am very worried about the side effect of weight gain. I exercise daily, am very active and have a pretty normal diet. If I continue with my eating and exercise habits should I be ok?

Answer

Yes, there is a good chance that your weight will be fine on the Pill if you continue with your exercise and good eating habits.

It is hard to predict what will happen to any individual woman's weight when she starts on the Pill - or in fact any other hormonal contraception, as everyone reacts differently.

A recent review of all research studies has shown that there is no overall weight gain in women taking the Pill compared to women not taking the Pill.

Some women gain a small amount of weight because they retain some extra fluid on the Pill. This tends to be shed in the pill free week.

Weight gain during the teenage years is normal, however, the Pill may be blamed for some of this natural gain, since many young women start taking the Pill in adolescence.

New relationships can change eating habits and exercise patterns and this may affect your weight. Many young women also become much less physically active when they leave school.

It is usually a good idea to trial a new pill for three months before deciding whether it suits you. This is because side effects, if they occur, may settle when your body gets used to the medication.