Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: Could you please ask the doctor if taking emergency contraception pills regularly can cause weight gain and what impact it has on the body?Doctor's answer:
Hello: During the initial months of taking oral contraceptives, irregular bleeding (breakthrough bleeding) often occurs during the menstrual cycle. However, as the body adapts and adjusts, the bleeding usually stops. Some women may experience several months of amenorrhea after stopping oral contraceptives, but this has no permanent impact on fertility. Other side effects, such as nausea, breast tenderness, edema, and elevated blood pressure, may be related to estrogen-containing contraceptives. Low-dose pills rarely cause these side effects. Side effects like weight gain, acne, and nervous sensitivity may be related to progestins, and low-dose pills also rarely cause these symptoms. Some women may experience a weight gain of 1.5 to 2.5 kg due to fluid retention, and increased appetite may lead to more significant weight gain.Severe side effects are rare. In the first few years of using oral contraceptives, the risk of developing gallstones may increase, but it then decreases. Among women taking oral contraceptives, 1 in 30,000 to 1 in 500,000 may develop benign liver tumors (adenomas). If a tumor ruptures, blood can flow into the abdominal cavity, causing severe symptoms. Adenomas usually disappear on their own after stopping the medication.
Women taking high-dose contraceptives have a 3 to 4 times higher risk of thrombosis compared to those not taking medication. As the estrogen content in the dose decreases, the risk of thrombosis also decreases. However, it remains higher than for women who have never used estrogen. If a woman taking medication suddenly experiences chest pain or leg pain, she must stop taking the pill and seek medical attention immediately. These symptoms may indicate deep vein thrombosis in the legs, which could potentially travel to the lungs and form an embolism, or