Does The Patch Make You Gain Weight?

Contraceptive patches are a type of transdermal patch about three centimeters and beige in color. ‘The patch’ is applied to any area of the skin, except for the breasts, so that they can discharge estrogen and progesterone into the skin to the blood. Once these hormones have reached the blood, ovulation is inhibited(eggs are not released) and, consequently, pregnancy cannot occur. These patches are applied every week for three weeks, with a break the week before your period. In addition, the patch is also known to thicken pelvic mucus, making it more difficult for sperm to reach eggs.

The patch need to be prescribed by a doctor or gynecologist.

As with all birth control methods, the transdermal patch has its advantages and disadvantages.

Contraceptive patch advantages include:

• Many people who forget to take the pill often opt for the patch, because you only have to stick it on every seven days for three weeks. Your menstrual period will start during the week when you take your patch break.
• Another great advantage of the contraceptive patch is that, if you use it correctly, it is 99% effective.
• The side effects of contraceptive patches are, according studies, practically null.

Contraceptive patch disadvantages include:

• Contraceptive patches are one of the most expensive types of birth control.
• If you put the patch on incorrectly or if it detaches from your skin, you need to go to your doctor immediately as you could fall pregnant.
• The contraceptive patch does not prevent transmission of sexual transmitted diseases (STDs), therefore, we recommend always using condoms.

Before taking any type of birth control, you should always educate yourself about its possible side effects. Birth control patch side effects include:

• Anxiety.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Spotting.
• Skin irritation where the patch is placed.
• Headaches.
• Skin darkening on the face.
• If you smoke while on the patch, risk of blood clotting increases.

Many studies have focused on studying and analyzing the side effects of contraceptives in women, paying special attention to one of the most frequently asked questions: Can birth control make you fat?

Although not proven 100%, there are some cases of birth control causing weight gain. However, in most studies that analyze whether or not birth control makes you fat, in general, the use of this contraceptive method is not a direct cause of weight gain. Meaning that the act of simply taking the pill or putting on the patch is not what causes weight gain.

However, there are some side effects of birth control that can result in weight gain. These birth control side effects include:

• Water retention: due to the hormone estrogen stimulating renin-angiotension stimulation in the kidneys.
• Increased appetite: some birth controls stimulate appetite and when uncontrolled, it can result in weight gain.

It is important to remember that birth control affects different women differently. Some women who take birth control may experience excessive water retention, while others might not. This is why some women, under medical supervision, try different types of birth control to find which one best suits their bodies^[1].

When it comes to birth control, you have different options to choose from. Birth control options include:

• Birth control pill.
• Birth control patch.
• Intrauterine device IUD.
• Birth control shot.
• Vaginal ring.
• Birth control implant.

For more, we recommend reading how to stop taking birth control pills safely.

Although most studies are not conclusive about the relationship between weight gain and the use of contraceptive patches, there are some women who are more prone to weight gain from the patch than others:

• Swelling: some women feel more swollen when using contraceptive patches. This may occur because their circulatory system is not working correctly and can slow down more with hormones. In this case, the increase in body volume is not so much due to fat, but, as we mentioned before, due to fluid retention.
• Diseases: people who have suffer from sugar level problems or are diabetic can experience weight gain from the patch. But why do diabetic women who take contraception suffer from weight gain? This is because contraceptive patches cause insulin resistance which generates an increase in body fat. This concentration of fat is usually visible on the hips and abdomen.
• Overweight: it is not recommended to use the patch or any other hormonal contraception if you are overweight or obese. This is because the possible side effects can appear noticeably accentuated.

You should ALWAYS consult your doctor or gynecologist before taking any type of hormone pill or contraception. A professional can help you choose the best contraception most suitable to your body type so that you can avoid side effects. If you are taking contraception and notice any symptoms, contact your doctor and consider changing your contraception type^[2].

For more about birth control, we recommend reading:

• Birth control that doesn’t cause weight gain.
• What are the side effects of birth control?

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Does The Patch Make You Gain Weight?, we recommend you visit our Family health category.