Metformin and Birth Control Pill Simultaneously

Dawn710 · 05-21-2009, 01:28 AM

Hi all,

I was wondering whether anyone has had experience with taking a birth control pill (in my case Alesse) in conjunction with Metformin.

In the past when taken alone, Metformin helped me lose weight but did not fully regulate my cycle. This time, following the birth of my first child, I began with a birth control pill to regulate my periods and then recently began the Metformin to help with weight loss.

Right after my daughter was born, I immediately lost 30 pounds of my pregnancy weight. Since then, despite Weight Watchers, followed by lowering my carb consumption and upping my activity, I cannot lose a pound. I was hoping the Allese would help with weight loss, but it had no effect. I have now been on 1500mg of Metformin for 10 days and have had no real weight loss either. I am wondering if perhaps the birth control pill is countering the weight loss effect of the Metformin.

Does anyone have any thoughts about that possibility or any suggestions how to get the weight loss going?

Thanks for your help.

**EricaNicole** · 05-22-2009, 01:00 PM

I was on met about a month before my gyno gave me BC I lost 15 lbs right off the bat when i was just on met, but since i started taking BCP(Sprintec) ive gained like 5lbs. Its a possibility.

Lerney26 · 05-25-2009, 11:26 PM

I'm having the same issues. My doctor put me on met (starting out 1,000mg) and nuva ring BC and I'm not losing any weight at all. It's been four weeks.
It's all very frustrating!!

**EricaNicole** · 05-26-2009, 01:19 PM

i literally just called my dr. to see if he could figure out whats up...LOL

monaisttc · 05-26-2009, 01:24 PM

I just started met today again been on and off of met. but i have been taking nore somthing bcps. I hate these bcps I have acne and more facial hair and been eating more. I really hate it

kc_angel · 05-28-2009, 09:10 AM

BCP can make you gain weight, that is one main reason why when i was given the option of starting to get my period i refused to go on them, not only that i have read many times that when coming off BCP some women with PCOS have noticed their symptoms got worse!

carrottop · 05-28-2009, 12:23 PM

I have been on BCP since before my diagnosis. I was put on Met almost 2 months ago due to not losing weight on my own. Since then I have lost around 7lbs total. My weight fluctuates so much though (especially depending on how much intense exercise I get) it is hard to tell what I have really lost (ie the scale read 7lbs lost almost 2 weeks ago and since jumped up to only 3lbs lost and is finally started coming back down to approx 6lbs). I also changed BCP from Seasonale to Sprintec about a month into Met. It could be due to type/brand of BCP you are on.

AMAcysterthin · 05-28-2009, 01:36 PM

I too am on Met (1000mg) and BCP (Yaz) I was really hoping to see some of the immediate weight loss that other women have talked about on this site. However, no such luck! I have always hated taking BCP, because I personally think it makes some of my symptoms worse (headaches, weight gain, bloating, and acne.) I'm very interested in this post!! I hope we figure something out soon!

momzducky · 05-28-2009, 02:26 PM

I dont get it. I know bcp r suppose to help regulate hormones, but when you take them, you gain weight. I thought you were suppose to loose weight in order to help with PCOS. I hate bcp! I have been on and off of bcp like 3 times, and everytime I gained and when I would go off of them, I still kept the weight. Not including acne, migraines, and extreme moodiness. They need to come up with a bcp that helps with losing weight and reg. hormones.

carrottop · 05-28-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by momzducky

I have been on and off of bcp like 3 times, and everytime I gained and when I would go off of them, I still kept the weight. Not including acne, migraines, and extreme moodiness.

What type of BCP are you on? Some brands / types of progestin can help the symptoms and others can actually make it worse. According to the book Hormonal Balance v2 by Dr Scott Issacs there are some BCP that are better for PCOS than others. This is mainly due to the type of progestins in the pills. Some progestins actually increase androgenic activity. He recommends BPC that have either drospirenone, desogestrel, or norgestimate as the progestin included in the pill as these have the least amount of androgenic activity. This includes Yasmin, Yaz, Apri, Desogen, Orthocept, Ortho-Cyclin, and Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Yasmin is also supposed to raise potassium which also helps insulin resistence. The progestins levonorgestrel, norgestrel, and norethindrone all have high androgenic activity and cause side effects including acne, bloating, weight gain, and insuline resistance. Do you know what type of progestin is in your BCP?

Rainbow_Chakra · 05-28-2009, 06:57 PM

Diane-35 helped me loose a bit of weight. But I had to quit it because of blood clot history in my family.

This makes me think that anti-androgens might help PCOSers loose weight. The Anti-Androgen in diane 35 is cyproterone acetate. You might be able to get this on it's own. Spiro might work then too. I'm sure you've heard all the diet advice about no sugar etc... But what fun is that? lol Anyway I can't comment on that because I haven't tried the no sugar thing for very long. Although it's my new goal.

Alesse is a "low potency" bcp. But did you know that the Progestin used in alesse is levorongestrel... which has a tendancy to turn into androgens in your body... Something most pcosers don't need. ALSO... because of the "low" dose of estrogen (estradiol) in Alesse, the estrogen does not taper the effects of the adrogenic properties of the levonorgestrel. I have a chart from the pharmacist and the progestational effects of levonorgestrel are basically the same as the androgenic effects. If you prefer a low potency pill because you can not tolerate the higher ones then in my experience Ortho-Tri-Cyclen LO has been the best. Slightly less androgenic, with a little bit more estrogen in the first place to nullify some of the androgens. Androgens make me fat... I don't know about anyone eles here, but I assume I'm not the only one.

Princess_Phoenix21 · 06-03-2009, 07:30 PM

i went to go see the doctor today and he switched me to Yazmin and a combo of metformin 1 pill a day then next week 2 pills daily then 3 pills daily.

hmm hope it works

**EricaNicole** · 06-04-2009, 06:08 PM

my dr. finally increased my met. about dam time...did you guys know that BCPs stop you from ovulating? That can't be good...just doesnt seem right to me. doesnt seem natural.

beane28 · 07-06-2009, 10:41 PM

I am on Yasmin and was on Metformin for 4 years. I actually stopped gaining weight when I went onto Birth Control alone, and then was able to start losing a little after going on Metformin.

Rainbow_Chakra · 07-08-2009, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by **EricaNicole**

my dr. finally increased my met. about dam time...did you guys know that BCPs stop you from ovulating? That can't be good...just doesnt seem right to me. doesnt seem natural.

Yes I am aware that BCP's stop me from ovulating. But I'm not trying to get pregnant so that's the whole point right? Anyway I got Lactic Acidosis from Metformin and almost needed a liver transplant so that's not an option for me unfortunately.

I have considered going off BCP's for "natural" reasons but the issue I have with that is when I am off them I do not make enough of my own estrogen. So I experience hot flashes and heart palpitations like a menopausal woman. Also when i am not on BCP's I don't get a period and about the same time as I should be getting my period I get a never ending PMS since my period doesn't acutally ever come I have continuous PMS getting fatter and more consitpated and more full of acne.

I wish there was a natural solution to this low estrogen. I thought Metformin was going to be my answer but that was a terrible and life threatening experience to say the least.