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Does Birth Control Make You Gain Weight? An OB-GYN Answers
In this video, OB-GYN Kecia Gaither, MD, discusses the common question about whether birth control affects weight.
Written by Lauren Smith, MA | Reviewed by Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH
Updated on February 7, 2025Do birth control pills really cause weight gain? In this video, OB-GYN Kecia Gaither, MD, explains how birth control pills may cause bloating and water retention, not permanent weight gain.
Additional Medical Contributors
- Kecia Gaither, MD, MPH, MS, MBA, FACOGDr. Gaither, an ob-gyn and maternal fetal medicine specialist, is director of perinatal services at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, a member of NYC Health + Hospitals System in Bronx, New York.
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2024). Facts are important: Hormonal birth control.
InformedHealth.org [Internet]. (2017). Contraception: Do hormonal contraceptives cause weight gain?
View All References (2)
Lindh, I, et al. (2011). The long-term influence of combined oral contraceptives on body weight. Human Reproduction.
Lopez, L.M. et al. (2016). Progestin-only contraceptives: effects on weight. Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews.
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