SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2006
Combination contraceptives: effects on weight.
Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2006. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 39 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
39 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Progestin-only contraceptives: effects on weight.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- Steroidal contraceptives: effect on carbohydrate metabolism in women without diabetes mellitus.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2014Pooled it
- Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2013 · on this mapGuideline
- Adverse effects of the common treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2013Pooled it
- Progestin-only contraceptives: effects on weight.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2013Pooled it
- Progestin-only contraceptives: effects on weight.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2011Pooled it
- Preliminary side effect profile, safety, and tolerability of hormonal contraception among women receiving opioid-agonist therapy.Contraception · 2022Trial
- Weight and body composition changes during oral contraceptive use in obese and normal weight women.Journal of women's health (2002) · 2014Trial
- Continuous compared with cyclic oral contraceptives for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized controlled trial.Obstetrics and gynecology · 2012Trial
- Efficacy and tolerability of a monophasic combined oral contraceptive containing nomegestrol acetate and 17β-oestradiol in a 24/4 regimen, in comparison to an oral contraceptive containing ethinylestradiol and drospirenone in a 21/7 regimen.The European journal of contraception & reproductive health care : the official journal of the European Society of Contraception · 2011Trial
- Effect of combined metformin and oral contraceptive therapy on metabolic factors and endothelial function in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.Fertility and sterility · 2011Trial
- Effect of the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin contraceptive patch on body composition. Results of bioelectrical impedance analysis in a population of Italian women.Nutrition journal · 2008Trial
- Contraceptive-Induced Weight Gain-Myth and Reality Review.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Article
- Association between endogenous sex hormones and adiposity in youth across a weight status spectrum.Pediatric research · 2025Article
- The dual impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on metabolic and reproductive health in polycystic ovary syndrome: insights from human and animal trials.Therapeutic advances in endocrinology and metabolism · 2025Review
- Article
- Perception about benefits and risks related to combined hormonal contraceptives use in women with Lynch syndrome.Annals of medicine · 2024Article
- Medical weight loss in older persons with obesity.Clinical obesity · 2024Review
- Medication-induced weight gain and advanced therapies for the child with overweight and obesity: An Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) Clinical Practice Statement 2022.Obesity pillars · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
- Updated by
- Update of
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundWeight gain is often considered a side effect of combination hormonal contraceptives, and many women and clinicians believe that an association exists. Concern about weight gain can limit the use of this highly effective method of contraception by deterring the initiation of its use and causing early discontinuation among users. However, a causal relationship between combination contraceptives and weight gain has not been established.
objectivesThe aim of the review was to evaluate the potential association between combination contraceptive use and changes in weight. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the computerized databases MEDLINE, POPLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, and LILACS for studies of combination contraceptives. We also wrote to known investigators and manufacturers to request information about other published or unpublished trials not discovered in our search. SELECTION CRITERIA: All English-language, randomized controlled trials were eligible if they had at least three treatment cycles and compared a combination contraceptive to a placebo or to a combination contraceptive that differed in drug, dosage, regimen, and/or study length. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: All titles and abstracts located in the literature searches were assessed. Data were entered and analyzed with RevMan, and a second author verified the data entered. Depending on the data available, the weighted mean difference using a fixed effects model with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated for the mean change in weight between baseline and post-treatment measurements or the Peto odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals was calculated using the proportion of women who gained or lost more than a specified amount of weight. MAIN
resultsThe three placebo-controlled, randomized trials did not find evidence supporting a causal association between combination oral contraceptives or a combination skin patch and weight gain. Most comparisons of different combination contraceptives showed no substantial difference in weight. In addition, discontinuation of combination contraceptives because of weight gain did not differ between groups where this was studied. AUTHORS'
conclusionsAvailable evidence was insufficient to determine the effect of combination contraceptives on weight, but no large effect was evident.
Indexed as
Identifiers
16437470What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.