Best Birth Control Options

Women who use the IUD device Mirena are concerned with the possibility of weight gain as a side effect of the product. Mirena weight gain may cause some women seeking a reliable form of birth control to avoid its use and instead choose other methods of pregnancy prevention.

To put the notion of weight gain with this device into perspective, the product itself must be understood as to how it protects women from unwanted pregnancy. First, this product is deemed by the Federal Drug Administration as a safe form of birth control. The hormone used in this specific IUD is levonorgestrel. This specific hormone is the active component in the device which prevents sperm from being able to survive long enough to fertilize an ovum. Levonorgestrel, which is progestrin-based, as are many other female hormones, raises the potential for weight gain.

An important fact regarding this product is that there have been no direct correlational evidence of weight gain being directly caused by the use of this device. Many proponents of this specific IUD claim that the appearance of gaining weight while using the device could be a consequence of other factors unrelated to the actual device.

Healthcare professionals advise women who use this product to pay close attention to their diet, activity level, and stressors in their life. All three of these situations could be the underlying cause of weight gain. There is also the possibility that other medical conditions could be the culprit behind added weight. Concerns regarding weight gain should be discussed with your prescribing physician to rule out these potential causes.

While it is not clear whether or not weight gain is a true side effect of the device, many women still claim they have experienced additional pounds during its use. The main question women need to ask themselves in the face of this potential side effect is whether they are willing to put up with a few extra pounds for the protection from unplanned pregnancy the device provides. While no one enjoys any amount of weight gain, the matter of how effectively this device works for pregnancy prevention cannot be understated.