Can birth control pills have a detrimental effect on the treatment of PCOS?
A. Many women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) are often prescribed oral contraceptives to regulate their menstrual cycle and balance their hormones. However, this does not treat the underlying cause of PCOS and once the oral contraceptives are discontinued the symptoms of PCOS will reappear. Contraceptive pills can also have a detrimental effect on the treatment of PCOS. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Endocrine Regulations, oral contraceptives may actually make you gain weight. (1) The study looked at 19 non-obese women with PCOS who were evaluated before and after taking Diane 35, an oral contraceptive used in many countries. Diane 35 is a combination birth control pill containing ethinylestradiol and cyproteroneacetate. After the women had used the pill for 7 months, researchers noticed a significant increase in weight and elevated cholesterol levels. The weight gain in these women negated the benefits of using the birth control pills to lower the ele
