Progesterone-only Pill

[Marleyxxx]

Hi, I’ve recently been put on the progesterone-only pill due to having frequent migraines.

It’s my second month and I’m starting to experience some side effects. One which is I’m starting to put on weight. My nurse said I should just have a increase in appetite which I haven’t experienced. I eat so healthy, track my calories and do a lot of exercise so this makes no sense to me and makes me think it must be the pill.

Please can some advise if this is a side effect and if there’s anything I can do?

[Hidden]

Dear xjwilliamsx,

Here's a fascinating BBC piece published in 2018 on oral contraception that's worth reading:

bbc.com/future/article/2018...

And to quote from the article, "no birth control at all is likely to lead to 25 to 35 pounds of weight gain over the course of nine months."

So the short answer to your query is, yes, oral contraception can be associated with weight gain. Reasons are complex (read article), but it may be a side-effect that is outweighed by its benefits. You will have to decide if this is the case for you, as there are alternatives such as intra-uterine delivery systems (e.g. Kyleena, Jaydess) that don't appear to be associated with weight gain, but will have other side-effects that you may be unhappy with. Speak to your family planning nurse/doctor. If your diet, lifestyle etc are fine, there's not much else you can do.

Adhari.