Expert: Norman Solberg - 1/21/2012

Question
Dear Dr. Solberg,

I am 22 years old and about two weeks ago I started taking birth control pills, more specifically ortho cyclen. This is the first time I have ever taken BCP because I haven't been sexually active until recently.

I've noticed that recently my appetite has been changing, as well as the types of food I crave. Normally I'm a very healthy eater and I enjoy eating healthy, but lately I've been craving salty or sugary foods, and a lot of microwaveable foods that aren't really that healthy (like Hot Pockets and fries!). Healthier foods just aren't that appealing to me anymore. Is this because of the BCP? Will these cravings go away soon? I am worried about weight-gain, and I feel like I am already retaining a lot of water.

Thank you,
Kim

Answer
Hello Kim,
Unusual cravings would be a very unusual effect of birth control pills.  If there is any chance that you're pregnant (got pregnant before starting the pill), I would do a pregnancy test.   If you're not pregnant, I would suspect that there is some other reason for the change in your appetite.