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Home/Cycle Matters / Birth Control

Does birth control make you gain weight?

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Written by Freya Eriksson

Freya Eriksson

With more than three years of experience in the field, Freya Eriksson specializes in writing about the latest research into fertility and reproductive health. She is passionate about shining a light on under-researched topics such as contraception and planning pregnancy. Freya holds a Master's degree in Linguistics and lives in Stockholm, Sweden.

Fact checked by Jack Pearson, Medical Affairs Manager at Natural Cycles

Jack Pearson

Dr. Jack Pearson is a previously HCPC registered Embryologist with a PhD in reproductive medicine. Prior to joining Natural Cycles leading Medical Affairs, he worked for more than 10 years in a clinical setting working at some of the busiest fertility clinics in the UK. Today he spends most of his time working with experts at the world’s leading institutions to carry out important research with the vision to further the field of female health. He earned his PhD from the University of Sheffield specializing in Sperm Metabolism and currently lives in London.

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8 min read

Our weight is something that many of us think about, whether it’s feeling the pressure to look a certain way, or out of concern for our health. It’s no wonder that there is some controversy around the topic of whether or not weight gain is caused by hormonal contraception. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the science behind this subject and what we actually know about birth control and weight gain.

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