i used to be on ortho tri cyclen, and at that time, i was entering college. it's a potent batch of hormones, and with the dramatic change in my eating habits (going from bad ot worse) i gained a lot of weight. my gynecologist switched me over to triphasil, and i moved out of the dorms. i've been faring quite well since, and i have lost some weight since then.

but that is *my* body chemistry, so you will want to discuss this matter with your gynecologist and see what's right for you. okay? cool.

mostly it depends on your other lifestyle habits: diet, exercise, etc. for example, when i went off to college, i was getting a *lot* more physical exercise than in high school, because i didn't take my car with me and i had to walk everywhere on a very large campus and within a fairly large city. this helped balance out any possible weight problems, as did the fact that i ate less and better (no money for expensive junk foods, no time for excessive snacking, etc., etc.).

if you are concerned, though, go in and talk to a doctor. a doctor can tell you with more authority which pills carry the highest risk of certain side effects, plus he can suggest one to start with and can change it later if need be.

plus, take time to consider: if you get on a pill that causes you to gain a couple of pounds, is that really all that bad? i mean, as long as it is very slight and not severe, a few pounds *might* be an acceptable trade-off for all the benefits you can get from the pill (clearer skin, more predictable menstrual cycles, less painful menstrual cramps, and of course, lowered risk of pregnancy!).

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Kythryne Aisling
Scarleteen Sexpert