Any ladies here on ortho tri-cyclen, or were in the past?

[Devils*Angel]

I just started ortho tri and i was wondering who here has used it before, and what your experiences with it were like. The thing I am most worried about is the possible weight gain. What exactly is it about the pill that causes weight gain anyway - does it just make you hungrier because of the hormones or does it actually make you store more fat? Will watching my diet prevent weight gain while on this pill? Anyway, if any of you could tell me about your experiences or comments on (good or bad) ortho tri-cyclen i'd really appreciate it.

 

[FitFossil]

Different people have different reactions to various BC pills. Some people tolerate them and some don't - I'm one of the "don'ts". I took ortho tricyclen about 7 years ago and had a number of bad side effects, namely extreme mood swings, weight gain, constant hunger/stomach growling, melasma (brown patches on face), and it killed my libido.

Before that scares you off, let me say I'm not a normal person to begin with. For one thing, I was already taking Prozac for eating disorder and depression. I had to triple my Prozac dose when I went on the BC pill, because of the mood swings it caused.

Although various studies say the pill doesn't make women gain weight, I (and many others) say otherwise. (These "studies" were probably funded by companies who make the pill... ) Anyway, I believe something in the Pill made my body store fat more easily. Being already so conscious of my weight, I did not allow myself to eat more food. I even increased my exercise, but my weight kept climbing.

Many people say Prozac makes them gain weight, but it helped me lose weight because I no longer starved/binged. My weight had been stable for years when I went on the BC Pill. Same with the libido. I'd never had a high one, but it was still there through years of Prozac. When I started the Pill, I didn't want my husband anywhere near me.

Because of the side effects, I switched to Triphasil, but it was just as bad. Now I use an IUD and feel back to normal. That's my experience in a nutshell. I'm probably a worst-case scenario due to my other issues. My hormones were probably already in a fragile state, and adding the Pill was too much for me.

 

[jessi78]

ive been on ortho for about 6 years now. id say im holding onto about 5-8lbs from it. i get severe bloat the week before menstruation, oh yeah and carb cravings too. ive tryed a few others over the years, and this one seems to be the best for me.<sides mini pills>

jessi

 

[lady bella]

I've been on ortho-triclen for over 5 years and have to say that is causes me less side effects than the others I've been on.

Its good for the complexion and I lost weight when I got on it. As for the weight gain issue.... bc pills can make your tummy hurt so you think you are hungry and eat, hence the extra pounds, but I take it on a full stomach at night and don't have the hunger/stomach pains.

 

[Ceebs]

I was, and I loathed it. I could lose weight on it just fine, but it all came from my upper body - my estrogenic fat deposits (thighs, glutes, hips) didn't budge an inch.

I think the reason why some people lose weight on the pill, and some gain it, has to do with that individual's hormone levels. If a woman with very low natural estrogen and progesterone went on the pill, for example, the sudden influx of hormones would cause her to gain weight - whereas someone with high estrogen and progesterone naturally would experience weight loss because the hormone amount provided by the pill greatly lessened the amount their body was producing. Just my theory...