Every woman who takes or has taken the pill has heard it at least once. That little phrase that passes for gospel truth: “You’re on the pill? You’re going to gain weight.” So, myth or reality? Is the contraceptive pill responsible for weight gain or the appearance of cellulite? It’s a controversial topic — and one well worth exploring.
The pill’s unwanted effects on your figure
Oestrogens, found in contraceptive pills, are the hormones responsible for weight gain and the development of cellulite. Naturally produced by the female body, this hormone predisposes women to storing fat around the buttocks, hips and thighs. A perfectly normal phenomenon — one that is amplified by taking an oral contraceptive. Oestrogens therefore encourage fat storage. Another downside: oestrogens cause water and sodium retention, commonly known as water retention, in the tissues. This can lead to possible oedema and cellulite in the lower body, as well as feelings of breast and pelvic tension.
Progesterone, another hormone found in certain pills — combined oral contraceptives, or the combined pill — works to counteract the unwanted effects of oestrogens. The combination of both hormones is designed to ensure effective contraception while limiting cellulite gain. But here’s the catch: some combined pills tend to stimulate appetite and are “diabetogenic” — meaning they mechanically raise insulin levels in the blood, triggering irresistible cravings for snacking. Bad news for fat and cellulite on our thighs…
To sum up: if your pill’s dosage is poorly suited to your physiology, there’s a good chance it will have an impact on your body. Weight gain and cellulite are never far behind.
What are the solutions?
First, an important reminder: we are all different. Some women gain weight easily, while others struggle to put on a few pounds. The same goes for venous-lymphatic insufficiency or water retention — some women are prone to it, others less so. The same applies to contraception: some women won’t gain an ounce on the pill, while others will develop stubborn cellulite.
1- Switch your contraceptive pill
That said, until recently, women prone to water retention — and therefore to aqueous cellulite — who chose the pill as their contraceptive method (effective and convenient, it has to be said) had very few good options available to them. Either stop taking the pill, or submit to low-calorie diets that are harmful to the body, just to shed the extra weight and limit the appearance of cellulite.
Fortunately, new solutions have emerged. 3rd and 4th generation pills, micro-dosed or formulated with drospirenone (a progestogen close to natural progesterone), cause fewer unwanted side effects. They result in less — or even no — weight gain, and offer better control when it comes to cellulite. Alternatives to oral contraception, such as the intrauterine device (IUD) or the contraceptive patch, which releases no hormones, are also increasingly popular among women prone to cellulite. A friendly piece of advice: speak to your doctor and discuss your needs together.
2- Adopt an anti-cellulite routine
If you switch contraceptive pills, bear in mind that it may take several months before you see a positive effect on your cellulite. To support you through this transition and help firm up your skin, you might consider adopting a Cryo Fever by Cellublue routine. A refreshing range with a cold-action approach, designed to target fat and dimples wherever they appear! The cellulite & slimming pack includes:
- A cellulite cream, perfect for treating cellulite all over the body
- A melting gel specially formulated for the stomach and hips, to help you reclaim a slimmer waistline
- A cooling jelly specially designed for the thighs, to target stubborn cellulite
An intensive routine with this glamorous trio, followed by regular use, should help you shed the cellulite that built up while taking a contraceptive pill that wasn’t right for your body.
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