Birth control weight gain and water retention?

I was on the pill for years and stopped for 3 months, I lost 12 lbs and noticed that I have bony ankles. I am starting the second week of active pills and have noticed that I am gaining weight back, and my ankles are swollen, however my lifestyle has not changed, I eat healthfully, drink a lot of water and exercise 5 times a week. Should I change birth control...or start a strict diet and increase my strength training and cardio?

Maybe you can ask for one lower in estrogen

I found this on
http://www.wdxcyber.com/ncontr11.htm

Estrogen in high doses is known to cause weight gain especially that due to fluid retention (1). The more estrogen there is in a pill, the more tendency to gain weight such that a 50 mcgm pill will result in more weight gain than a 35 mcgm pill (1).

The mechanism of action is probably direct stimulation by the estrogen in pills of kidney substances called renin-angiotensin that cause water retention. The water retention then causes sodium (salt) retention. A lower estrogen level pill, e.g., 20 mcgm, will help reduce weight gain due to fluid retention.This was confirmed in a more recent study with 30 mcgm pills in which there was essentially no difference in weight gain or weight loss between the placebo group and the oral contraceptive group (1). Again, however, 30% of these women had a weight gain of more than 1 lb but the net result was the same in the control group. Those who did have weight gain had increased fat but no difference in fluid retention amounts indicating that fluid weight gain may be less of a problem with the newer, lower estrogen pills.

i think u should try other form of contraceptive methods such iud device,condom, derma patch,etc. pills have got lots of side effects.

birth control makes u gain weight. no matter what u do they will still make u gain weight. talk to ur doctor they may be able to give u a new pill not to make u gain weight.

Well weight gain is very common with ALL forms of Birth Control (pill, patch, shot, etc.), it just does not affect everyone. I was on the shot for 4 years, and never gained a pound...but then I graduated high school and stopped being so active, and I put on about 20lbs in 6-9 months. I got off the shot after that and lost it all pretty quickly. So the moral is....if you are going to be on BC and you are one of the unlucky ones that gain weight....then you need to increase your work out sessions :) Good luck.

I would ask to be put on a different pill. They are all different, otherwise there wouldn't be so many kinds! See if you can find the right one for you.