Abstract
Weight gain is commonly cited as a side effect of hormonal contraception, and may lead to discontinuation or reluctance to initiate. This view is widely held among clients and providers. Combination contraceptives are not associated with weight gain, although among users of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate weight gain may occur, which may be limited to adolescent users who are overweight or obese at initiation of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate. Users who rapidly gain weight initially may also be at higher risk of greater weight increase. There is limited information on other progestin-only methods. Women who request contraceptive methods need reassurance and advice from providers to allay their fears of weight gain. The providers, in turn, need to be aware of the available evidence.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors would like to acknowledge the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for support to authors Mags Beksinska and Jenni Smit. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Notes
COC: Combined oral contraceptive.
Taken from Citation[39].
DMPA: Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate; DMPA-IM: DMPA-intramuscular.
Taken from Citation[39].