Whether taking 'the pill' for the first time or switching brands, most girls have the same question: Can birth control cause weight gain? It's a side effect that may make some women wary of birth control pills. We get it; you want to maintain control over your body, and starting a new medication with the potential of gaining weight is scary.

Does Birth Control Cause Weight Gain?

It does, but it might not be what you think. Birth control pills cause weight gain, but only for a short period. There's no substantial evidence linking oral contraceptives to excessive weight gain. For anyone new to the pill, you're probably wondering how much weight you could gain by taking the pill.

On average, women gain 1-4 pounds during the first month of starting birth control. It's important to note here that these extra pounds are usually not fat; it's mostly water weight. We'll dive more into this later. After 2-3 months of continuing with birth control, those extra pounds will usually begin to diminish. The side effects of a new birth control pill wear off for most gals around the 3-month mark.

Why Does Birth Control Cause Weight Gain?

Remember when we mentioned water weight? Well, pesky water weight can add pounds initially; but the nice thing about it is that it will likely go away on its own. In other words, you don't have to worry about hitting the gym extra hard or skipping a donut.

Hormonal birth control contains estrogen, the hormone responsible for increasing water retention and spiking insulin levels. When your body is clinging to extra water, it means few additional pounds. The worst of the two is the higher insulin level. When our insulin level rise, energy from delicious carb-rich dishes like bread, pasta, and anything else that tastes good, gets redirected toward fat cells. If weight gain with birth control is scary for you or causing anxiety, try a brand with less than 20 mcg of estrogen.

How To Maintain Weight While On Birth Control?

If you're taking the pill for the first time or recently changed your medication, there are a few tips to help keep those annoying extra pounds at bay.

• Try To Work Out More:
  No, you don't have to sign up for the next intense P90x class or spend hours in the gym. But increasing your exercise a little will help keep those pounds off.

• Try Natural Diuretics:
  Diuretics make you pee a lot. The more you urinate, the more water weight you'll lose. Hibiscus, green and black teas, coffee, parsley, and ginger are all well-known natural diuretics.

• Decrease Your Carb Intake:
  As hard as it may be, try to stay away from those delicious carbs while starting a new medication. Don't worry, though; it's not forever. Before you know it, there will be a heaping plate of fries with your name on it.

• Pay Attention To Timing:
  For some girls, going on birth control during a more stressful time in life, like entering finals week, starting a new job, going off to college, or starting a new school, may contribute to weight gain. Added pounds may not be from the pill, but from stress eating at 2 am while you're making a presentation.

Bottomline

Weight gain due to birth control is a short-term side effect of hormonal contraception. A few simple steps can help you manage weight while on birth control. However, contact your OB-GYN if excessive weight gain triggers health issues or you hit a weight loss plateau because of hormonal birth control.