A few months ago I was in the doctors office switching my birth control from the IUD to a progesterone only pill. She told me she often gets asked if the pill is going to make someone gain weight but the answer gets a little wishy washy. While the hormone progesterone itself doesn't make an individual gain weight, it increases appetite which could have the additional side effect of weight gain. However, this link is still not fully understood and would require additional research. But from what we understand progesterone leads to:
1. Increased appetite. This is though to be because of the additional stimulation of a second hormone called Ghrelin. Ghrelin is produced by cells in your stomach and helps regulate the feeling of being full, therefore changing how much a person eats in a day. This is considered to be the 'hunger' hormone and plays a role in both increasing appetite and fat storage.
2. If you are anything like me, carbs are your favorite part of the day. Pasta has my heart and when I'm off birth control and have a natural period that isn't heavily regulated, specifically in the luteal phase when I have high progesterone levels, I will eat as much pasta and bread as I want. However, carbs are known for helping increase serotonin levels in the body, which acts as a feel good hormone or mood booster. Carbohydrates help the amino acid Tryptophan cross the blood-brain barrier. Tryptophan is the precursor to serotonin making it possible for production of serotonin in the brain. Therefore, eating carbs gives a mood boost making the individual feel happier. However, eating more carbs can lead to weight gain.
So while progesterone itself might not lead to weight gain, there are some factors it plays into that would increase the likelihood. However, I am not giving up my pasta quite yet.
Chalicha, E. (2021). Does Progesterone Make You Hungry? How to Deal with Hormonal Cravings. BetterMe Blog. https://betterme.world/articles/does-progesterone-make-you-hungry/.
Mental Health Daily. (2015). Foods That Increase Serotonin: Tryptophan + Carbohydrates - Mental Health Daily. https://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/04/06/foods-that-increase-serotonin-tryptophan-carbohydrates/.
This is so interesting, Lauren! I never truly understood the mechanism of why progesterone pills cause weight gain (this was my OG birth control) but it makes so much more sense! I definitely gained weight when I started birth control and then lost weight with my new one (estradiol). I wonder why weight loss happens with the estrogen pills?
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