Ethinyl Estradiol is a contraceptive that is also used for hormone replacement therapy. Many women use ethinyl estradiol to prevent pregnancy and also to replace the estrogen hormone after menopause. As it is with many other medical treatments, there are some confirmed side effects that are connected with the use of ethinyl estradiol use. Some of these include melasma, nausea and stomach cramps. There are also some conditions that have been commonly thought to be side effects of ethinyl estradiol and other contraceptives but have actually been disproved by scientific studies. One such condition is weight gain.

Common Perceptions

There is still some controversy surrounding the issue of whether contraceptives actually cause weight gain in people who take them. Many women who take oral contraceptives are convinced that their weight increases when they are on contraceptives. Weight gain is even one of the main things that discourage women from starting oral contraceptive use. Weight gain is also one of the most common reasons cited by women who choose to discontinue using some oral contraceptives. Studies have actually shown that of all the side effects associated with oral contraceptives, weight gain is the most commonly cited reason for discontinuance. Yet, many other women who take these treatments experience no weight gain at all. Many scientists and doctors are also divided on the issue.

Clinical Studies

Recent studies using ethinyl estradiol contraceptives in the patch and pill form, have not found any link between the contraceptive and any substantial weight gain. Studies from multiple clinical trials have shown that the weight gain experienced by women who were put on ethinyl estradiol was relatively minimal. Studies also compared the use of the patch and the pill but found no substantial difference in the weight gain experienced by women who used either form of the contraceptive. One study using ethinyl estradiol found that the tests subjects who actually gained weight during the trial on average gained only a fraction of a kilogram at the end of the six month trial. Trials that used the patch and those that used the pill came out with similar results.

The fact that the weight gain experienced by the subjects of these trials was so small virtually eliminates any connection that could be drawn between ethinyl estradiol and short term weight gain. Despite this fact, many women continue to be deterred from certain contraceptives by reports of weight gain in women who use those treatments. Ethinyl estradiol has been shown to be a very effective method of contraception. However, when measured against the prospect of weight gain, many women still choose not to use oral contraceptives. The fact that this short term study shows no connection between weight gain and ethinyl estradiol, also, does not mean that a study conducted over a longer term would not come up with more substantial, definitive results.

Ethinyl Estradiol

Ethinyl estradiol, when used correctly, can be a very effective method of contraception and present no side effects. It is always encouraged, however, that women who want to use ethinyl estradiol speak in-depth with their healthcare providers to discuss the chances that they will experience side effects.

Contraceptives

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