Expert: Diane Cheryl - 10/31/2006

Question
I am an 18 year old girl who has been on the pill, Trinessa, for over 4 months. In this time I have gained over 10 pounds.  I am eating less and exercising more than I was before I started the pill -- so the weight change is worrying me.  I saw my doctor and she insisted the pill had nothing to do with it and even tested my thyroid. But nothing came from the test.  I have never had to worry about my weight before and this problem frustrates me to no end.  I do not know what to do and this weight gain makes me feel so self-conscious.  Something needs to be done.
Thank you,
Ashley

Answer
Hi Ashley,
I'm not a medical doctor so I usually suggest that you check with your physician. But since you have, I would recommend at second opinion. It is pretty common knowledge that weight gain is a side effect of birth control so I'm surprised that your doctor does not know this or tell you. Is there any other method you could go on or use abstinence? I'm going to include the info about the pill for your knowledge. Please email me at DCHERYL51@yahoo.com and let me know what you think about this. Also I could talk to you about other methods.

Here is some information about the pill because I want you to know how the pill works.
I want to warn you on some of the risks of the pill.
<Progestins and the estrogen in the pill are artificial hormones that
make your body believe that it is pregnant month after month. All the
vital organs in your body are affected by the constant use of the pill.
It contains powerful steroids and artificial hormones.
This constant presence of powerful steroids is not healthy, and there
are side effects when using the pill. Here are the ways the pill can
work.
1. It can prevent ovulation (releasing an egg from the ovary)
  2. It can cause the mucus in the cervix to change so that if sperm
reach the cervix, they are not allowed to enter, and
  3. It can irritate the lining of the uterus so that if the first two
actions fail, and you do become pregnant, your body will reject the
fetus (baby) and he or she will die.
It's called a chemical abortion.

Here are some of the side effects of the pill:
-bacterial infections (because the pill weakens the immune system.)
-more susceptible to the AIDS virus (HIV) because the pill weakens the
immune system
-pelvic inflammatory disease-an infection of the fallopian tubes that
can cause sickness or sterility
-infertility-unable to ever bear children
-ectopic pregnancy
-shrinking of the womb (endometrial atrophy)
-mood swings and depression
-breast cancer
-blood clots
-birth defects in children conceived while women are on the pill
-tender breasts
-stroke
-cervical cancer
-weight gain
Hope this information is helpful.
Thanks,
Diane Cheryl
DCHERYL51@yahoo.com