switch in birth control pills - how long does it take for the hormones to clear out of your system?

Question

I am a 23-year old female, and was on Yasmin for many months, without any problems or side effects, but rather with great improvements in skin, menstrual cramps, etc.

In November (2009), as a result of moving to Europe for several months for work, I ended up switching to a French brand called Daily Gé. Basically, my question has to do with the hormones involved with birth control and the weight gain that they can cause - specifically, I noticed a visible change in my size about a week or so before I went on this french pill, and ever since then I've been SO confused with this weight gain. It only occurred to me when I was nearly done the first pack that it might have been brought on by the pill change.

It is true that the time frame is a bit confusing, what with noticing the extra pounds a little before I started the new pills...so I'm maybe wondering if possibly, the weight gain could have been "sustained" by the hormones in the French pills coincidently. Whatever the case and whatever the true cause of this was (perhaps a sudden change in diet since moving to France...although I must say there was never a substantial difference), I've never had this problem with Yasmin or any other brand for that matter. Since then, I've switched to the french equivalent of the North American Yasmin (Jamine in France), have been practising portion control regularly, and have been working out. Long story short, I'm not really seeing myself go back to my "normal" size and it's been quite mentally and emotionally taxing.

If this had anything to do with the french pills I tried (only took them for a month), is it possible that those hormones are still in my system and might take a couple months for them to exit my system? I'm wondering because if this is a possibility, the physical effects that could have been caused by them might not stabilize back to normal for a while...?

Answer 1

The hormones in birth control pills only take a few days - if that - to be completely out of your system.

I think it would more likely be the change in location.

You are in France now, and everything is different there.

Even if you are still eating about the same, you have to remember that their foods may be prepared differently than the food in America.

Also, just being in a new place can cause changes like that. You are not in the same location on the globe and there are atmosphere, air, water and pollution differences.

And you said that you started noticing the weight gain before starting the French pills, so there is no reason to believe that they are the cause of this.

Sometimes this just happens, and all you can do is what you are already doing - eating right and working out.

And try to stay stress-free because that can cause weight gain.

I hope this helps you.

Answer 2

I had that EXACT same problem... I was going to the ER about 2 to 3 times per WEEK to get a shot of tordol and phenergan to help the migrains subside a bit (i had them BADDDD and NOTHING helps them). The only difference is that... I went on nuvaring for ovarian cysts... I put the ring in, and got a migraine the day after... took the ring out 3 weeks later and had another migraine the day after lol The problem was my body was adjusting the the hormones! Duhr! i know you know that already, but my OB suggested I stay on it for a few more weeks and see if it stops, and it did! THANK GOD! It just takes a while to adjust... Try the nuvaring, its AMAZING, its low dose, you dont have to take a darn pill at the same time everyday, and its SOOO easy to use. Its the only birth control i have EVER been able to use, all the pills made me HORRIBLY sick! and BELIEVE me i have tried JUST ABOUT all of them! lol I had a baby a little over a year ago and am dETERMINED not to have another one right now! lol Nuvaring is the ONLY birth control that I could handle. Hope that helps girl. Good luck!

Answer 3

Well even if it was a hormone thing that caused the weight gain it's not that simple if you just take the hormone away that you will just lose the weight. The weight is here to stay until you can lose the extra weight. I have heard of women gaining weight from the pill, but you are still getting some kind of hormone and that might be the reason your weight is still on you. I get that you don't want to go off the pill, but you just have to be patient and just work on losing the weight. Good luck!