Birth Control Pills: Side Effects, Weight Gain & Acne - Expert Advice

Question
My boyfriend and I of 8 months have talked about this form of birthcontrol and i was wantiong to try and find some info. on it. im worried that turning to this form will cause me to gain weight or my acne to increase....im not trying to sound like im all about my looks but id like to keep in a good physical conditions for myself and my boyfriend :).  so what advice can you give me?????

Answer
Hi Harley,

Do you mean the birth control pill? There are many different brands of pill and they affect individual women differently. The pill, on average, does not cause weight gain. Some women do experience is an increase in water retention, and some pills with higher doses can cause some weight gain. It all depends on how the hormones in the pill reacts with your body. I recommend that you discuss your concerns with your doctor. He/she will be able to choose a brand that will have the best chance of not causing these side effects in you. If, after a few months on the pill, you are not happy with them, you can switch brands. Sometimes women will try a few different brands before finding one that works best for them.

I hope this helps. If you have further questions let me know.

-Mia