Birth Control Pills Do Not Cause Weight Gain In Women

A novel U.S. study negates the popular belief and claims that birth control pills are not associated with weight gain, so women need not worry.

The present study was initiated by a group of researchers headed by Dr. Alison Edelman, a physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University.

Birth control pills are the most common method of contraception used by Americans, in addition to being used by more than 100 million women worldwide. The pills are greater than 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy if taken correctly and consistently, said the lead researcher.

Concern about weight gain is one of the main reasons why women may avoid or discontinue birth control, which in turn places them at greater risk for an unplanned pregnancy, he added.

Study details
For the study, the researchers examined the rhesus macaque monkeys at the Oregon National Primate Research Center for a period of eight months, during which they were given the contraceptives, similar to those taken by humans.

The primates were divided into two groups. While the former consisted of monkeys who were obese, the latter had ones with normal weight.

This breed of the monkeys was chosen, as their reproductive system is similar to that of human beings.

After monitoring the weight, food consumption, activity, lean muscle mass, and the body fat of the study subjects, the researchers observed that the obese group lost 8.5 percent of their weight, as well as 12 percent of their body fat, while the normal weighing group members reported putting on some weight.

Benefits of birth control pills
As per the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, birth control pills were associated with many health benefits.

Taking oral contraceptives makes women about 50 percent less likely to develop ovarian and endometrial cancer than those who have never used them. In addition, contraceptive use does not appear to increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, a CDC report said.

The study researchers noted that if women were gaining weight with intake of the oral contraceptives, it could be something else that was contributing to the extra calories.

This study would be published in the February issue of the journal Human Reproduction.