Hello all,

I`ve been thinking about going on the pill, and I have a few questions.

- Does it make you put on weight?
- How is it a method of birth control when someone posted you can get pregnant at any time during your cycle??
- Is it bad to use it to skip periods all the time?
- Does it reduce period pain?

Thankyou!

Cutie

1. a lot of doctors say no. a lot of women say yes. the 2 factors that can cause weight gain are water retention and increased appetite from either the estrogen or progestin
2. Well first of all there is only one day a month you can get pregnant. It is men who are fertile any time :) Its just a matter of knowing when that one day is (by charting fertility signs) and then accounting for the 5 days sperm can live. But anyways... the way the pill works is to prevent ovulation, thicken the cervical mucus so sperm can't get through it, and change the endometrial lining so that if you have breakthrough ovulation a fertilized egg can't implant in the uterus.
3. Many women use it to skip their periods. There aren't any long term studies on safety but the FDA thinks its safe since they've approved Seasonale.
4. I haven't noticed any reduction in cramps.

I just wanted to add that I have had a huge reduction in cramps since starting the pill. I used to have pretty bad pain before starting the pill but now I only get minor cramps and some back ache. But they doesn't keep me bedridden like they used to.